On Saturday, November 15th at 2215 hours, the Epworth Fire Department was paged out for a notifier fire alarm at Meegan Hall of Divine Word College. Meegan Hall is a dormitory building that houses colleges students on the Divine Word College Campus. After acknowledging the page, Assistant Chief Steve Silker responded directly to the scene to investigate and establish command per our in-city fire protocols. Upon his arrival, evacuation was in process and accountability of occupants was conducted. Upon entering the building, he found a fire on the stove in the 2nd floor kitchen which was spreading to the wall and ceiling. He was able to knock the fire down with a dry chemical extinguisher from a distance and then was forced to evacuate due to the smoke extension. Firefighters arrived within 4 minutes and advanced hose lines onto the second floor. Smoke evacuation was initiated and fire extension was checked in the adjacent rooms and the floor above the fire. The ceiling was pulled and holes were cut in the dry wall to check for extension. Firefighters remained on the scene for about an hour. Smoke damage was contained to the second floor. Firefighters credit the limited damage because DWC maintains a fire notification system and the DWC safety committee continually practices fire drills with their students.
