[thistleclub]

This could've gone way worse.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Firefighters Respond to Fire at McMaster University

HAMILTON, ON - October 18, 2008 - At 3:55am this morning, Hamilton firefighters responded to a structure fire at Brandon Hall, a student residence building on campus at McMaster University.

Firefighters arriving on the scene discovered a well involved fire in one of the buildings elevator cars which had also extended into the second floor corridor. Firefighters worked quickly to contain and extinguish the fire while assisting residents in the building with evacuation and dealing with smoke removal from the upper floors.

Brandon Hall is an eleven storey student residence building containing approximately 362 student rooms and occupied by approximately 580 residents. It is estimated that there were approximately 200-300 students in the building at the time of the fire.

Three residents of the building suffered smoke inhalation and were transported by Hamilton Paramedics to hospital where they are being treated. Damage to the elevator car and second floor corridor is extensive and at this time the cause of the fire is undetermined. The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office has been contacted and an Investigator will be attending the scene later this morning.

McMaster University staff is working to assist students that have been displaced as the result of this fire.