Fire in UC dorm lounge forces out 840 students
An early-morning fire in a UC Riverside dorm damaged a lounge area and forced the evacuation of 840 students Thursday while firefighters extinguished the flames, authorities said. There were no injuries.
The fire broke out about 3:30 a.m. in the third-floor west lounge of the Aberdeen and Inverness residence hall, university officials said. Riverside firefighters used ladders to rescue seven students from a third-floor ledge. The fire was under control in about 30 minutes.
About 80 students will be moved because of smoke damage. There was no structural damage to the building, which was built in 1959. University officials said the fire was probably caused by an equipment malfunction.
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