Christmas lights cause dorm room fire
Freshman suffers second-degree burns to hand, chest
DJ Slater
Issue date: 3/10/05 Section: Campus News
A blanket draped on top of overheated Christmas lights on a loft frame caused a fire at 9:52 p.m. in 427 Bridgman Hall Friday, Eau Claire Fire Department Inspector Jan Harter said.
Sophomore John Harrigan assisted freshman Mike Sabaka out of the room, while freshman David Washa used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, according to an ECFD report.
"They prevented it from being a larger situation," Harter said. "It could have been more damaging and it wasn't."
Sabaka, who was asleep in his burning bed, suffered second-degree burns to his hands and his chest, according the report. Freshman Nick Landauer, Sabaka's roommate, was not in the hall at the time of the fire.
Harrigan said it was a tough night and refused to comment further on the incident. Sabaka also refused to comment.
Around 8:40 p.m., Bridgman Hall RAs Siggy Spelter and Jenna Hamersky arrived on the fourth floor after RA Steven Davis heard loud noises coming from the room, according to a University Police report.
After opening the door, they found nine students drinking and asked them to remove all the alcohol containers in the room. Harrigan and Sabaka were among the students who received underage drinking citations, according to the report.
After the RAs cited the students in the room, Harter said some of them left the area while others remained on the floor.
According to the ECFD report, Harrigan stayed with Sabaka, who was on his lofted bed, after the party. When Sabaka threw up, Harrigan decided to leave the room. As he did, he noticed the Christmas lights were on while Sabaka slept, according to the report.
About 10 minutes later, Harrigan and Washa heard a smoke detector buzzing while they were in their rooms. Once Washa opened his door, he said he noticed smoke coming out of Sabaka's room.
While other residents attempted to get into Sabaka's room, Harrigan walked over to the door and entered the combination, according to the ECFD report.
Sophomore John Harrigan assisted freshman Mike Sabaka out of the room, while freshman David Washa used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, according to an ECFD report.
"They prevented it from being a larger situation," Harter said. "It could have been more damaging and it wasn't."
Sabaka, who was asleep in his burning bed, suffered second-degree burns to his hands and his chest, according the report. Freshman Nick Landauer, Sabaka's roommate, was not in the hall at the time of the fire.
Harrigan said it was a tough night and refused to comment further on the incident. Sabaka also refused to comment.
Around 8:40 p.m., Bridgman Hall RAs Siggy Spelter and Jenna Hamersky arrived on the fourth floor after RA Steven Davis heard loud noises coming from the room, according to a University Police report.
After opening the door, they found nine students drinking and asked them to remove all the alcohol containers in the room. Harrigan and Sabaka were among the students who received underage drinking citations, according to the report.
After the RAs cited the students in the room, Harter said some of them left the area while others remained on the floor.
According to the ECFD report, Harrigan stayed with Sabaka, who was on his lofted bed, after the party. When Sabaka threw up, Harrigan decided to leave the room. As he did, he noticed the Christmas lights were on while Sabaka slept, according to the report.
About 10 minutes later, Harrigan and Washa heard a smoke detector buzzing while they were in their rooms. Once Washa opened his door, he said he noticed smoke coming out of Sabaka's room.
While other residents attempted to get into Sabaka's room, Harrigan walked over to the door and entered the combination, according to the ECFD report.
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