Fire at ZM Chapter House

[CanadianTeke]

Fire hits WPI fraternity house
Four-alarm blaze forces 16 to flee
By April Simpson, Globe Correspondent | August 22, 2005

WORCESTER -- Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity brothers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute were awakened by thick smoke and screams early yesterday after a fire swept through the house, destroying valued keepsakes and what has been the group's base for 15 years.

The fire, which began about 5 a.m., caused extensive damage to the three-story structure at 63 Wachusett St. Officials are investigating its cause, but they believe the fire originated in a couch on the front porch.

Fourteen brothers and two guests all left on their own, and no one was seriously injured, said District Chief Frank Diliddo, a Worcester Fire Department spokesman.

One resident, Ryan Starbuck, complained of chest pains and was treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital and released.

Collin Weingarten, 19, was sleeping on the third floor when he heard a commotion outside, saw flames reflected off windows across the street, and ran downstairs yelling for people to wake up.

''I tried to get out the front door, but the flames were way too intense," said Weingarten, whose face and bare chest were marked with soot yesterday afternoon. ''I tried to get out another door, but that didn't work, either. I literally got thrown back by the flames."

Starbuck, 20, awoke to the smell of smoke outside his second-floor room.

''The scariest thing was seeing the windows blowing out," said Starbuck, who ran up and down the stairs several times to alert his housemates. ''Everyone was already out, and I didn't know. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't breathe."

Frat brothers recovered a few items yesterday afternoon. They took their sneakers, books, clothing, chairs, and fans out of the house, where they had moved in last week in preparation for classes, which begin Thursday.

The brothers talked of rebuilding or reclaiming their home.

Justin Schumacher, a 2003 graduate who visited the scene yesterday, said he lived there for two years.

''It's not like I lost anything but the little bit of history I had here," said Schumacher, 25, noting that paddles and class pictures were destroyed. ''It's just sad seeing it."

Blackness covered nearly every inch of the house's exterior. Water dripped from the ceiling above the porch.

More than 50 firefighters responded to the four-alarm fire, which occupied much of the fire department's capabilities. Neighboring towns supplied mutual aid.

The sprinklers and smoke detectors activated properly, but the fire, which also damaged the exterior walls of a neighboring house, spread through the inner walls, officials said. No foul play is expected at this time, Diliddo said.

Administrators met with the displaced brothers yesterday to discuss their medical and academic needs and to provide short-term housing in area fraternity houses and on campus. This semester, 28 students were scheduled to live in the house, said Janet Richardson, vice president of student affairs and campus life.

The Zeta-Mu Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity has been at WPI since 1959 and at its current location since 1990.

The fraternity is active on campus and received an outstanding chapter award last year, said Stephen Hebert, university vice president.

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Thankfully nobody was hurt, Hopefully the house was well insured and they can begin rebuilding the house, at least they know they have a few hundred thousand brothers out there who could lend them a hand.