AMES, Iowa -- A Sunday evening fire at the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house in Ames has displaced the 45 Iowa State University students who live there, but no injuries were reported.
The fire broke out at the house at 301 Lynn Ave. at approximately 7 p.m. Ames Fire Department officials are investigating the cause of the fire, which they said started on the third floor. No damage estimates are available at this time. All but one of the women who live at the sorority house south of the ISU campus were home at the time of the fire. The women were in the midst of a recruitment meeting and their adviser was present.
Dean of Students Dione Somerville said the women will stay at the Kappa Alpha Theta house tonight (Aug. 12), and then may be housed in other Greek houses or in campus housing until they are able to return home. Staff from ISU's Dean of Students Office, Greek Affairs and Student Counseling are providing support to the students. The Red Cross also provided assistance on Sunday.
Somerville said all the students have called their families to let them know they are safe.
Alpha Chi Omega members will continue their fall recruitment activities as planned this week at the nearby Beta Sigma Psi fraternity house.