Updated: Friday, 10:39 a.m.
No injuries were reported in a Friday morning fire at Wefald Hall on Kansas State University’s Manhattan campus. The fire was extinguished by the hall’s suppression system, according to the K-State Police Department.
The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to a faulty fan.
The Manhattan Fire Department said in a press release later in the morning that upon arrival of the residence hall, crews found nothing. But after investigation, firefighters determined that a fire in a fourth floor dorm room had been extinguished by the building sprinkler system. Crews shut down the sprinkler system and performed salvage and overhaul of the room. Seventeen firefighters responded on six fire apparatus with the last units clearing at around 7:35 a.m.
Students were evacuated from the hall and relocated to Kramer Dining Center and have since been allowed back inside Wefald Hall.
Fire loss is estimated at $3,500 to contents and $5,000 to the structure. There was some additional damage due to water running between floors that is undetermined at this time.
MFD said the incident serves as an example of the importance of installing fire sprinklers in buildings where people sleep. MFD added this fire was quickly extinguished because of the sprinklers and reduced the risk of injury or death to sleeping occupants.
Wefald Hall was built in 2016 and houses approximately 540 students. It cost $60 million to build and an official dedication in honor of its namesake, former KSU President Jon Wefald, was held in April of last year.
