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Posted on Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 8:02 p.m.

Fire in residence hall room displaces 8 University of Michigan students

By Amalie Nash

Eight University of Michigan students were displaced for at least the night after a fire that started in a microwave in the Baits housing complex spread to a resident's room, university officials said.

No one was injured in the 3 p.m. fire in the Cross House of Baits on North Campus.

Diane Brown, a spokeswoman for the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, said a resident was reheating food in a microwave, and it appears aluminum foil caught fire.

He attempted to take the food out, but burning pieces of the foil fell on clothing and ignited it, Brown said. The resident evacuated and called for help.

When Ann Arbor firefighters arrived at the three-story building off Hubbard Street, they saw heavy smoke coming from the room, Battalion Chief Chuck Hubbard said.

All the residents in the building were evacuated, but many weren't home since it was a Sunday afternoon, Brown said.

The building doesn't have a fire suppression system, but doors kept the fire from spreading to adjoining rooms, Brown said. The hallway had smoke damage, and adjacent rooms also may have some smoke damage, Hubbard said.

University housing is assisting the eight students who will be unable to return tonight, Brown said. It's unclear how long they will be displaced, but officials expect to know more in the morning.

A damage estimate is not yet available, but Hubbard said the room where the fire originated was severely damaged.

Comments

Grand Marquis de Sade

Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 6:56 p.m.

Perhaps applicants to the University should have to take a "basic knowledge" test before they're admitted. If you don't know things like "water and electricity don't mix", "don't put metal in the microwave", "don't use water on a grease fire", "mixing ammonia and bleach will kill you", etc. you probably shouldn't be living unsupervised. I think most people learn these types of things by the time they're 10 years old if not sooner. This truly boggles the mind.

A2voter

Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 5:08 p.m.

Clara, you can't prevent stupid from happening; it somehow always finds a way. Most jobs don't ask employees to run into a burning building while everyone else is running out. They deserve more money.

Soothslayer

Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.

Well, yeah its Aluminum foil for one. Also I'm guessing that the foil itself didn't "catch fire" and it was whatever food was being heated that ignited after arcing from the foil. A bad lesson to learn the hard way. Also the chain of events that made the situation much worse is quite disconcerting.

The Picker

Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 8:24 a.m.

Foil hasn't been made from tin in over a century. FYI

clara

Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 10:46 p.m.

Yes, they did such a good job this time.

A2voter

Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 9:20 p.m.

yes, tin foil in a microwave. in my opinion the housing officers deserve a higher salary for keeping the students safe.

mliverox

Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.

You put tin foil in the microwave, and once it caught on fire, you spread it around the room to start your clothes on fire. And this is the 'Harvard of the Midwest'???