Snack bar fire damages Indiana Deaf School

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Firefighters say a blaze that started in a dormatory snack bar caused $100,000 in damage to the Indiana School for the Deaf.

The Indianapolis Fire Department was called out to the school at 3:15 p.m. Thursday for a possible fire at one of the dormitories.

Students and faculty were already evacuating the building when fire crews arrived.

Firefighters did not find any signs of fire from the exterior, but when they went inside to the second floor snack bar area, they found heavy smoke and a small fire.

School officials believe the fire was caused by a small refrigerator that shorted out while it was defrosting. Fire investigators were called in to determine cause and origin.

According to Rose Hemelgarn, Director of Operations, there were approximately 50 students in the dorm building, but some may have already gone home before then.

When the smoke alarms activated inside the building, maintenance workers began searching for a possible fire and called for the building’s evacuation.

According to Battalion Chief Rodger Finchum, damages are estimated at $100,000, due to smoke and water damage. No injuries were reported.