Fire contained at downtown fraternity

Adam Smeltz

STATE COLLEGE -- A fire broke out this morning at an East Beaver Avenue fraternity house, but the damage appeared to be contained quickly. No serious injuries were reported.

It happened just before 4 a.m. at the Kappa Alpha Order house, 234 E. Beaver Ave. Firefighters arrived to find smoke escaping from a second-floor window in the back of the landmark stone building, along Highland Avenue.

A witness said some flames had been visible from the street level.

The firefighters -- volunteers with the Alpha Fire Company -- tackled the blaze from Highland Avenue. They said about 4:20 a.m. that it was under control.

People familiar with the Penn State fraternity chapter said that the structure, built in 1923, is equipped with a sprinkler system. An internal alarm system sounded and helped evacuate the building when the fire broke out, witnesses said.

Firefighters and police were not certain whether the fraternity occupants will be able to return to the house today. Borough police Cpl. Chris Hill described the incident as a small fire.

He said an investigation into its cause is continuing.

Police and other responders prepared to help fraternity members find alternate lodging -- just in case they need it. At the scene, it was not clear how many people could be displaced if the house is deemed unfit for occupation.

Fraternity members, having rushed out of the place, huddled in various stages of undress along Highland Avenue before they received immediate shelter elsewhere this morning. Temperatures overnight were in the high 20s, according to AccuWeather.com.

A fire in 1929 damaged much of the Kappa Alpha Order house, according to the fraternity's Web site. The home was later renovated and rebuilt. Today it includes 30 bedrooms and can house as many as 55 members, according to the site.

More information will be reported on CentreDaily.com and in the Centre Daily Times as it becomes available.

Adam Smeltz can be reached at 231-4631.