September 27, 2005
Burned student remains critical
By Greg Cima
gcima@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON -- A 20-year-old man was in "very critical" condition Monday because of injuries suffered during a fire the day before at his fraternity house, a hospital official said.
Joseph Wenholz of Oak Brook was taken to BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal and transferred to the burn unit at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield following the fire about 7:30 a.m. at Beadles Hall at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Nobody else was injured in the fire at the home of the Sigma Pi fraternity.
Deputy Fire Chief Dave Adelsberger said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it does not appear it was intentionally set.
He said the flames were confined to a kitchen in the basement of the building, and there was no significant structural damage. The lower level had some smoke damage, he said.
Bloomington Police spokesman Duane Moss said his department was called to help with interviews following the fire, but "it would be a stretch, at this point, to say there was a criminal investigation."
Firefighters found Wenholz, a junior English major, in the basement of the building, Adelsberger said. Fire and water damage was limited to the kitchen area, while
The 25 other students living in the home were allowed to gather clothing, books and other items Sunday afternoon, and university officials found housing for them in various locations through campus, IWU spokesman Jeff Hanna said. Residence hall staff spent several hours Sunday finding open housing and gathering keys and linens, he said.
University officials said they hope students will be allowed to return to the home within 48 hours, Hanna said, but repairs could take until Wednesday.
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