Although Athens Fire Department Captain George Klinger said the fraternity brothers would likely be allowed to return to the house the morning following the fire, Lee Fuller, president of the Housing Corporation for Phi Kappa Psi, said they would not be returning until the end of the week.
About 30 Ohio University students were displaced after a kitchen fire erupted in the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house, 8 N. College St., early Tuesday morning.
Although Athens Fire Department Capt. George Klinger said the fraternity brothers would likely be allowed to return to the house the morning following the fire — which is believed to have been caused by a deep fryer in the house — Lee Fuller, president of the Housing Corporation for Phi Kappa Psi, said they would not be returning until the end of the week.
Although the house is structurally sound, Fuller said the residents are waiting for restoration of their kitchen to be completed before moving back in.
“Insurance was out today,” Fuller said, adding restoration would start Wednesday morning.
For the time being, he said the university would be placing the fraternity members in available residence halls.
“The university is taking care of housing,” Fuller said.
OU also provided on-campus housing to 17 of the 40 students displaced by November’s Union Street fire. Other students were allowed to return to their homes.
The fire department responded to the fire at the fraternity house at about 3:50 a.m., Tuesday, according to department officials.
Klinger said there were no injuries, and damage was limited to the first-floor kitchen of the fraternity, where the deep fryer was located.
Ohio University Assistant Dean of Students Chad Barnhardt said the students were moved to the Baker University Center for the night. There officials provided students with a place to stay over night, food and other basic necessities.
Barnhardt is a member of the Post Publishing Board, which chooses the publication’s editor-in-chief, but has no editorial control.
Authorities were trying to clear the building of smoke when a Post reporter arrived on scene at approximately 4:15 a.m. They began allowing residents to return to the building to collect clothes at approximately 4:20 a.m.
Authorities removed hoses from the building at approximately 4:30 a.m.
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