In a report released Friday, North Spartanburg Fire and Emergency say the cause of the Campus Edge Fire on Wednesday may have been "smoking materials" discarded on some dry pine needles used for landscaping under a walkway.
In addition, the report points out that three firefighters were injured.
To see the report, click here. To download a free pdf reader, click here.
The Campus Edge Fire left 48 students homeless, according to USC Upstate Officials. USC Upstate and the Piedmont Chapter of the American Red Cross are helping the students in the crisis.
USC Upstate has established an “Adopt A Student” program that allows the community to get involved. The “Adopt A Student” program lists items needed by the students, enabling so those who wish to help to maximize their efforts.
To donate or to adopt a student, click here.
You can also call or email Karen Thomas at (864) 503-5107 or kthomas@uscupstate.edu.
The Red Cross Helps
Greg Googer of the Piedmont Chapter of the American Red Cross says they have processed over a dozen claims for help after a fire ripped through Campus Edge Apartments Thursday morning. Many of the residents were students at USC Upstate.
To respond to the crisis, the ARC is set up at the Campus Life Center at the school, in the second floor ballroom and meeting with students.
The Red Cross is working to meet immediate needs: a place to stay tonight, money for food and arranging for clothing.
They say some parents have already arrived on the scene and are taking care of their children and have declined help. The ARC said that students who are away for the summer will also receive assistance as necessary.
North Spartanburg firefighters were on the scene of the fire early Thursday morning. Sixty firefighters battled the flames and rotated out from 12 different departments.
Those apartments are located at 1000 Pinegate Drive off U.S. 176 near the USC-Upstate campus.
The fire is in the G Building, and it is a total loss. The fire was first reported around 3:45 a.m.
Crews say no firefighters were injured.
The apartment fire near USC Upstate forced Brandon Blackley to jump for his life.
Blackley was sitting on his couch when he heard someone screaming "fire fire fire." He says he looked outside and saw his building on fire. "I ran back inside and got my fiance and cousin," Blackley said.
The senior at USC Upstate was the last person out of his second story apartment. He says his fiance and cousin were running down the stairs when a wall of fire exploded in front of him. "I either got to jump or go through the fire," Blackely said. He jumped.
Blackely says he hurt his wrist and ankle. He also broke his tailbone. "Material things can be replaced but a life can not be replaced," he said.
The building is managed by Managed by Ambling Management Company based out of Atlanta, Ga.
USC Upstate says 48 people were displaced. More than 30 are students. There were 25 people in the building at the time of the fire. All students affected are being offered housing at Palmetto Villas.
Those are apartments usually reserved for upperclassmen.
Investigators do hope to know the cause of the fire by Friday. They believe it started in the breezeway and it is an accident. The building did have working fire alarms but did not have sprinklers.
They say the apartment was built in the early 80s before sprinklers were mandatory.
North Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, Hilltop, Westview and Spartanburg City fire crews helped fight the fire.
To view the complete video shot Thursday morning, click here.
To donate to the ARC, click here.
To contact the ARC for help, click here.
To see user submitted photos of the fire and read Amy Wood's blog on the fire, click here.
This map shows the location of the apartment building.
USC Upstate has more information on its website. We have provided the information as well as links to USC Upstate's website below.
click USC Upstate.
click USC Upstate Fire.
Spartanburg, S.C. - A fire destroyed one apartment building at the Campus Edge apartment complex early this morning, displacing 25 University of South Carolina Upstate students. All 25 students were able to escape the fire with no injuries. USC Upstate is currently working with the students to provide services and the Piedmont Chapter of the American Red Cross is on the scene. Seven of the students have requested temporary housing, which is being provided by the University.
The apartment complex, adjacent to the USC Upstate campus but not owned by the University, houses up to 432 residents. The majority of these residents are USC Upstate students. The complex is at 67 percent occupancy today, which is typical given that fall semester doesn’t begin until August 21.
The fire was first reported at 3:45 a.m. Building G, which is comprised of 24 apartments with 48 beds, was completely engulfed by the time North Spartanburg Fire Department arrived on the scene. It is too early to determine the cause of the fire but the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
“We are indeed fortunate that no injuries or loss of life occurred today,” said Dr. John Stockwell, chancellor of USC Upstate. “The University is working with the students affected to ensure their immediate needs are met and their academic endeavors will not be interrupted.”
USC Upstate and local groups are offerring assistance for victims of the fire including replacing textbooks, ID cards, offering clothing, and providing meals.
Local Assistance Offered to Fire Victims
· The American Red Cross offers fire victims:
· Temporary hotel accommodations in Spartanburg immediately after the fire
· A voucher for the purchase of supplies from Wal-Mart
· A voucher for the purchase of groceries at Bi-Lo
· A voucher for the first month's rent on confirmed accommodations
· Financial assistance to replace prescription glasses and medicines
The University of South Carolina Upstate offers:
Upon request, students may move into available on-campus housing.
For some students the best option for immediate, affordable living accommodations is to move onto campus. On-campus housing is rented by the semester and does not require the student to sign a long-term lease. A representative from Housing & Residential Life (Ron Dalton (864) 503-5420 or rdalton@uscupstate.edu) is available to work with students who would like to move onto campus for the remainder of the semester.
Upon request, counseling services are available.
The trauma experienced from being the victim of a fire and the displacement and changes that follow may result in the need for confidential counseling services. If you would like to talk with a counselor, call (864) 503-5195 to schedule an appointment. You should feel free to tell the receptionist that you need to be seen as soon as possible. Visit the USC Upstate counseling center web page.
The University Bookstore will loan students books that were lost in the fire.
Students who have lost their books in a fire may go to the University Bookstore and ask for loaner books to replace those they have lost. The University Bookstore will have a list of the names of the students who may request loaner books, and if the Bookstore is not able to loan the book, Student Emergency Funds can be allocated for the purchase of books through the University Bookstore. (See information below.)
The Library will absorb the loss of library books destroyed in the fire.
The USC Upstate Library will have a list of names of the students affected by the fire. If students' borrowed library books have been destroyed by the fire, the Library will absorb the expense of the destroyed books.
Laptop computers can be borrowed from the Information Technology Department.
On a limited basis, the IT Department located in the Administration Building on the ground floor will lend students laptop computers for academic work until the students can replace their computers lost in the fire. If you have questions, contact the Help Desk at (864) 503-5257 or helpdesk@uscupstate.edu
Upon request, documentation for class absence is sent to students' professors.
In some instances the fire and individual needs resulting from the fire cause students to miss some of their classes. Upon request of the student, the Dean of Students Office will notify the student's professors and college dean that the student has been a victim of a fire and may need to miss class due to this crisis situation. If you would like for your professors to be notified, contact Dean of Students Laura Puckett-Boler at (864) 503-5108 or lpuckett-boler@uscupstate.edu, Campus Life Center, Rm. 226.
Other individual assistance is offered as needed.
If you find that you need assistance not listed above, please contact any of the individuals listed in this message. We are all part of the team that works to help students in crisis situations.
Laura Puckett Boler, Dean of Students
Phone: (864) 503-5108
Email: lpuckett-boler@uscupstate.edu
Office: Campus Life Center, Rm. 226.
Ron Dalton, Director of Housing & Residential Life
Phone: (864) 503- 5420
Email: rdalton@uscupstate.edu
Office: Palmetto House
Frances Jarratt-Hortis , Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student and Diversity Affairs
Phone: (864) 503-5195
Email: fjarratt-hortis@uscupstate.edu
Office: Campus Life Center Rm. 107
Rick Jones, Assistant Chief, University Police
Phone: (864) 503-5267
Email: rjones@uscupstate.edu
Office: University Police, Commons 1
Jerry Carroll, Director, Bookstore
Phone: (864) 503-5168
Email: jcarroll@uscupstate.edu
Office: Campus Life Center, Bookstore
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