Muncie Fire Department officials were still unsure about what caused this morning's fire in the basement of LaFollette Complex, but it appears to have been the result of human error, fire department investigator David Miller said earlier this afternoon.
"We know where it started in the particular room - it was a custodial break room - but at this point, we're still uncertain," Miller said. "We've talked to people who were in that room prior to when the fire started."
Investigators determined the fire started beneath a sink, Miller said. There is no reason to suspect foul play, he said.
"There's nothing there that indicates it was intentional," he said. "(But) there probably had to be some type of human involvement."
A Ball State University employee reported the fire about 4 a.m. Police evacuated all 1,900 of the complex's residents, who were moved to Worthen Arena for several hours before public safety officials allowed them back into the building.
Aside from some water damage from a burst pipe, Miller said, most of the damage was contained to the break room. A strong smoke odor lingered near the dining areas as of this afternoon.
The classrooms in the basement - many of which are for 100-level English courses - will remain closed until the area is cleaned and repaired.
Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president for marketing and communications, said the university is aiming to reopen the classrooms by the end of Thanksgiving Break. In the meantime, Ball State will relocate the classes. The relocations should be posted to Ball State's Web site by the end of the day, Proudfoot said.
For more of this story, please read Thursday's edition of the Daily News.
Click here to see student reactions to the fire.
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