Star-Journbal Editor
Leaping flames reflected in the windows of an adjacent boiler room forced the quick evacuation of about 125 Tabor College women from their dormitory complex Sunday night.
No damage or injuries were caused by the gas fire, which was shooting from the front of the boiler itself when Hillsboro firefighters arrived shortly after 10:30 p.m.
Firefighters turned off the main gas valve after gaining entry to the boiler room, located on the north side of the East Hall dormitory.
According to a Tabor College spokesman, the boiler was turned off overnight, and fixed by a boiler repairman Monday morning.
East Hall is one of four residence halls for women on the main campus. The other halls in the women's quad (Regier, Ediger, and Cedar) also were evacuated.
All students were allowed to return to their halls shortly thereafter. According to a Tabor spokesman, the dorm evacuation and 9-1-1 call were made by Cindy Denning, women's resident director.
"She is to be commended," said Hillsboro fire chief Ben Steketee. "Anytime there's a fire there's a potential for a dangerous situation. You've got a large gas line feeding those boilers, so if something should rupture, you'd have big problems.
"She acted cool and concisely and did exactly what needed to be done."
Steketee saw flames reflected in the boiler room's outside windows when he arrived at the scene.
"We sent in an attack team with
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a thermal imaging camera, a charged [water] line, and breathing air out of their packs," he said. "They saw exactly what we thought. The boiler was malfunctioning."
Firefighters used the thermal imaging camera to check the structure itself for hot spots; to see if the fire had spread.
"Finding none, we announced all clear, and let the girls return to their rooms," Steketee said.
Two fire trucks, an ambulance, several police cars, and a full complement of volunteer firefighters responded to the alarm call.
"I'm not sure how many we had, but there was a bunch," Steketee said.
"The call came in saying there was a fire in the boiler room, that flames were visible, and that approximately 150 people had been evacuated.
"When you hear that call, regardless of what you're doing, you stop and respond."
