Monday, April 14 — Five college students were killed in an early morning fire near Ohio State University campus that brought 11 fire engines and 100 firefighters to the scene.
Three Ohio University students and two OSU students were killed in the fire at 64 E. 17th Ave., which started around 4 a.m., just after a 21st birthday party was breaking up yesterday. Investigators ruled arson as the cause of the fire.
The three OU students who died in the fire were Erin DeMarco, 19, of suburban Canton; Andrea Dennis, 20, of Madeira; and Christine Wilson, 19, of Dublin. All three were sophomores and members of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
DeMarco was a marketing major; Dennis was a journalism major focusing on advertising management; and Wilson was a retail merchandising major.
A memorial service will be planned for the three women in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on April 26.
Two OU students also were injured in the fire. Jillian Gardner and Jennifer Lehren, also members of Alpha Gamma Delta, were treated at Ohio State University Medical Center after the fire and were released.
OSU students Alan Schlessman, 21, of Perkins Township near Sandusky; and Kyle Raulin, 20, of West Chester near Cincinnati also were killed in the fire.
Michelle Simakis
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