Fire at Lehigh Off-Campus Housing Ruled Accidental

A candle in the room of one of the victims started the blaze, which forced 8 Lehigh students out of their homes.

  A fire that burned eight Lehigh University students out of their off-campus housing a week ago was started by a candle in the room of one of the students, The Express Times reported. Deputy Fire Chief Robert Novatnack has determined that the fire at 447 Montclair Ave. was accidental, according to the newspaper. Andrew Douglas, who was injured by the blaze, has been released from the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest and is recovering at his parents’ home, Novatnack told the newspaper. The fire burned through the first floor of the half-double and forced eight Lehigh University students to evacuate both sides of the twin.

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Lehigh Student Burned in Off-Campus Fire

One Lehigh student burned, another student praised for guiding roommates to safety. Eight students displaced because of blaze at Montclair Avenue double.

Lehigh Student Burned in Off-Campus Fire

One Lehigh student burned, another student praised for guiding roommates to safety. Eight students displaced because of blaze at Montclair Avenue double.

  A Lehigh University student was hospitalized with burns and another was hailed as a hero following a two-alarm fire in off-campus housing that left eight students homeless early today. The 2 a.m. fire at 447 Montclair Ave. apparently started in the bedroom of student Andrew Douglas and burned through the first floor of one half of a twin, according to The Express Times. Douglas was taken to the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, but his injuries are not considered life threatening, the newspaper reported. One Lehigh University police officer also had to be treated for smoke inhalation, according to an email to the campus community from John W. Smeaton, the university’s vice provost for student affairs. The cause …

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