Salisbury, NC, October 31, 2001-A fire at a Catawba College dormitory on October 28 killed one student and seriously damaged the building. The fire was the third fire to occur in or near the dorm that evening; however, the fire department was called only to the third, deadly, fire.
The first fire was in a pile of leaves outside the house; students put it out with a fire extinguisher. Students also extinguished the second fire, which was in a laundry room, but called security officials. The officials did not contact the fire department.
The third fire originated near a couch in a common area of the dormitory. Firefighters contained damage to one of three suites.
Students had disconnected many of the smoke detectors in the dorm after the second fire.
The cause of the third fire is still under investigation.
College President Fred Corriher has mandated that all fires, no matter how small, be reported immediately to the local fire department.
