What happened at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1996?

On 12 May 1996 a fire broke out in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Tragically it would claim the lives of five people.

The building was constructed in the 1920s consisting of three upper floors and a basement. It was of mixed occupancy and featured open spaces. The ground floor was open with a central staircase leading to the dormitories with 19 bedrooms on each floor.

There was an open stairway in the centre of the building (the only stairway in the structure) which connected the basement with all three floors above. This was the primary means of egress for all occupants.

How did the UNC Chapel Hill Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house fire start?

It is suggested that the fire was caused by discarded cigarettes and classed as an accidental occurrence.

At the end of a graduation party, around 6am, an occupant was woken by the sound of the smoke alarm.

After investigation he returned to wake his room mate. Unable to reach the other occupants via the central stairway they were forced to evacuate via a window and escape ladder.
Two others awoke and were able to escape by climbing through a window onto the roof and jumping to the ground.

The building was equipped with some battery operated smoke alarms but no water sprinkler system.

What can the industry learn from the UNC Chapel Hill Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house fire?

A National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) investigation found;

• Combustible interior finish materials were present - the fire spread rapidly through wooden panelling
• There was little fire compartmentation - the presence of an open central stairway promoted the spread of flame vertically - the fire consumed the stairway along with adjoining corridors
• There was a lack of fire-rated construction separating the assembly areas from the residential areas of the building
• There was a lack of building-wide fire detection and fire alarm systems
• There was an improper use of or disposal of smoking materials
• The fire is believed to have started at the bar located in the basement