A house rented by four Ball State University students caught fire after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. No one was harmed.
The flames appeared to be contained to the attic and chimney of the house, located on the corner of Reserve Street and Beechwood Avenue.
At the time of printing, the fire was being extinguished and police and firefighters were unable to release information about the extent of damage to the home.
Junior general studies major Levi Jones, who lives in a downstairs bedroom, said he started a fire in his fireplace about 8:30 p.m. but doused it when he left to pick up a friend at about 10:30 p.m. No one else was home when he left, and when he got back to the house a few minutes later, the fire had started upstairs, he said.
A firefighter told Jones nothing had been on fire downstairs, meaning the flames had likely caught something high up in the chimney, Jones said.
Pastor Kevin Karner, of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, which is across the street from the students' house, said he heard sirens about 11 p.m. and came from his home around the corner to see four fire trucks and flames at the top of the house.
"Literally, there was just a wall of flame along the edge of the house," he said.
A fifth roommate, junior elementary education major Seth Claeys, had recently moved his belongings into the house's attic, as he will be added to the lease for the summer.
The attic contained Claeys' clothes, books, two televisions, a DVD surround sound system and a collection of about 200 DVDs, among other items, Claeys said.
Daily News Assistant News Editor Tommy Conroy is a resident of the house.
Check for updates on this story throughout the day online at bsudailynews.com.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
