Northwestern Students Saved By Sprinklers, Alarms: Evanston FD

EVANSTON, IL — Firefighters put out a second-story fire in the home of a group of Northwestern University students Monday night. At 9:08 p.m., the Evanston Fire Department was called to the 700 block of Emerson Street for a report of a dryer fire, according to a news release. Fire officials credited a working alarm and sprinkler system for potentially saving the students' lives.

Nine Northwestern students live at the home, and five were home at the time. All five were able to evacuate before firefighters arrived on scene after hearing a fire alarm, according to the department. Arriving firefighters heard the alarms going off and saw the students fleeing. They headed up to second floor and down a smoke-filled hallway.

When they arrived at the room where the fire had began, they found the sprinkler had been set off, which kept the fire under control after it started with the dryer, fire officials said.

“The fire alarm and sprinkler system worked exactly as designed, saving both lives and property,” Fire Chief Brian Scott said.

When single-family homes are converted to multi-family use, Evanston requires the owner installs sprinkler protection and an audible alarm, the department noted. The site of the fire had been converted to multiple units.

Top photo via Evanston FD