Four Firefighters Hurt by Falling Bricks in Ky. Fire

Jan. 07--Officials are investigating the cause of a Sunday morning fire in a building at Morehead State University.

Four firefighters were injured battling the blaze and were taken to St. Claire Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries and released, said Morehead Fire Chief Jeff Anderson.

No one was in Downing Hall at the time of the fire, Anderson said. Most students are still on winter break.

The fire at Downing Hall, which is near the baseball and softball fields, started on the top floor, according to initial reports. Anderson said that when crews arrived shortly after 7 a.m., the fire had made its way through part of the roof.

Downing Hall is being used as a storage and office facility. Built in 1967, it was at one time used as a dorm for student athletes, according to a press release from Morehead.

Anderson said the four firefighters were injured by bricks that fell while crews were battling the fire. The firefighters mostly suffered bumps and bruises and were taken to the hospital as a precaution. All had been released by early Sunday afternoon, Anderson said.

He said about one-third of the two-story structure was damaged in the fire. University officials said that the fire was under investigation and that authorities were completing damage assessments.

Anderson said fire crews were working with Kentucky State Police and the state fire marshal to determine the cause of the fire.

Morehead State University is a public university in Rowan County with a student population of about 10,000.

Beth Musgrave: (502) 875-3793. Twitter: @BGPolitics. Blog: bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com.

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