Fraternity begins recovery from summer fire damage

By JENNIFER NEJMAN
Collegian Staff Writer

The scent of mildew is no longer discernible in the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house.

About a week ago, fraternity members began to move into their house at 403 Locust Lane, which suffered extensive damage as a result of a structure fire that broke out early the morning of July 3.

Damages caused by the two-alarm fire and by the water used to squelch the fire forced the 10 individuals who lived in the house to move elsewhere for the rest of the summer.

Insurance covered the cost of damages, but there was no damage estimate available Monday, he said.

"Everything was covered with smoke stains and everything had to be wiped down. The carpets were in horrible condition," Acri said.

"A lot of ceiling tiles fell down from the water and the whole place smelled like mildew ... A lot of people had stuff that was damaged."

Most of the repairs to the common areas, such as the new wooden floor, have been completed, Acri said.

However, the third-floor room where the fire is believed to have originated and the second-floor room located directly below it are still in need of repairs.

The cause of the fire, which began on the third floor, is still undetermined, State College Police Sgt. John Wilson said. An official report is pending on results of samples submitted by the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal to the Pennsylvania crime lab in Harrisburg.

The fire marshal is working in cooperation with the State College Police Department, Wilson said.

All of the other rooms in the fraternity are usable, Acri said, adding 28 fraternity members will live in the house this semester.