The Purdue Fire Department was dispatched around 10:30 p.m. and was on-scene until about 3 a.m., said assistant fire Chief Kevin Clark. The West Lafayette Fire Department responded, as well.

According to Mike Koppes, Purdue’s director of fire protection engineering, it appears the fire spread from a grill on a second-floor balcony into the living room of the adjoining unit. When the fuel line to the propane failed, flames shot up to the third floor and heavily damaged the apartment above. The fire was contained to the two apartments and an attic above, Koppes said. He said the roof above the third-floor apartment was heavily damaged, as well.

The apartment complex has a basement and three floors, and 22 units. Clark said about 10 of the units received smoke or water damage.

All 87 people living in the complex were evacuated, and there were no injuries, said Carol Shelby, senior director of public safety. Purdue had been arranging for temporary housing in residence halls for the displaced students, but all had made their own arrangements, she said.

Koppes said the complex’s owner had brought in a company to secure the property early Saturday morning.

In Related News:

• 9th annual Meet and Greet welcomes students living off campus back to Purdue, West Lafayette
• Purdue Fire Department getting safety message out with ‘College Fire Survival’

News via Lafayette Indiana Online

Fire damages Cochran Apartments on Waldron

The video, called “To Hell and Back: College Fire Survival,” is available by going online to http://igot2kno.org. Produced by the People’s Burn Foundation of Indiana and funded by the Department of Homeland Security, the video is the third installment of the “Hell and Back” series about fire prevention and burn safety, said Purdue fire chief Kevin Ply.

Igot2kno.org informs college students about fire prevention and safety in and around campus.

“College Fire Survival” is meant to spread awareness to college students living both on and off campus, he said. Lt. John Guerra of the Purdue Fire Department has been presenting the 20-minute video and its related information in residence halls, fraternities and sororities around campus. Ply says he wants to spread the word, as well, to those living off campus. “College Fire Survival” is available to anyone with a Purdue career account by logging onto the Web site.

Purdue is a pilot university for the program, and Ply served as one of several experts during the production.

In Related News:

• Fire damages Cochran Apartments on Waldron

News via Lafayette Indiana Online

Purdue Fire Department getting safety message out with ‘College Fire Survival’