Fire damages two rooms in sorority house

Coming back from a hay ride and a bonfire last Thursday night around midnight, the sorority sisters of Alpha Phi were shocked to find that a room in their house at 4045 Walnut Street had caught fire. According to a report filed by the Philadelphia Fire Department, a small fire broke out when a halogen lamp in one of the sister's bedrooms tipped over, lighting a section of the carpet. Tricia Phaup, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, said it is yet to be determined whether a spark from the broken bulb or the heat from the lamp actually ignited the fire. Two rooms in the house sustained the most serious damage. A small portion of the third floor bedroom, where the fire began, suffered burns. One room directly beneath the source of the fire was damaged by falling ceiling panels, which were soaked by sprinklers turned on in the room above. Both rooms need to be gutted out entirely, said College senior Sarah Doty, president of Alpha Phi. Three sorority sisters were home when the fire erupted. The women were prepared with a fire extinguisher, but the sprinkler system, which responded to the heat, put out the fire almost immediately. No one was hurt, Doty added. "Alpha Phi is very grateful that no one was injured," Doty said. "The sisters have shown an amazing amount of courage. We have a lot to be thankful for." All sisters living in the Alpha Phi House were forced to leave and move into Stouffer College House this weekend. They will return to the house today to move all remaining items out. University Police will be making sweeps of the house while the sisters are away, Phaup said. "The women of Alpha Phi have gone through a lot this weekend. While students were enjoying Homecoming festivities, these women were itemizing a list of damages for insurance companies," Phaup said. "Any support they could get would be greatly appreciated," she added. Women from the national headquarter of Alpha Phi, in coordination with Campus Apartments Director Dan Diritis, are discussing plans for renovation. Besides the two heavily damaged bedrooms, water from the sprinkler system severely flooded all parts of the house, including part of the kitchen and a communal sitting room. "The house has suffered severe water and smoke damage," Doty said last night. "The hallways will be redone and well cleaned. All of the carpeting will be replaced," she added. Phaup encouraged students to be careful with their halogen lamps due to the potential danger associated with their use.