SBI investigating small fire at Western Carolina

CULLOWHEE - The State Bureau of Investigation and Western Carolina University police are looking into a small fire that forced the evacuation of a residence hall Monday.

About 400 students and staff were evacuated around 5 p.m. after smoke was spotted on the fifth floor of the Walker Residence Hall.

“Working with the SBI, we are continuing to conduct interviews in this ongoing investigation,” WCU Police Chief Ernie Hudson said in a news release Tuesday. “Our primary concern last night was, as it always is, the safety and security of students and staff.”

Several WNC fire departments responded to the incident. WCU officials said that campus police were able to put out the fire using a hand-held fire extinguisher.

Students were not allowed inside the building for about five hours. They were able to wait inside the Campus Recreation Center and Courtyard Dining Hall during the evaluation.

Bill Studenc, a spokesman for the university, said damage was “minimal.”

“A section of carpeting was damaged and probably will have to be replaced, and there is some smoke damage on the walls in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Crews are working to remove the smoke damage from the walls and to clean fire extinguisher residue,” he said via email.

There was no damage to rooms or personal belongings.

According to the WCU website, Walker Hall is near the main entrance to campus and home to 400 students.

Officials from the Cullowhee Fire Department, which responded to the fire, could not be reached to comment.