|
||||
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 25
April 2001 Fire
at Longwood College-- Historic Ruffner Hall Farmville-VA- At approximately 9:00 pm last night, a fire broke out in the historic Ruffner Hall complex at Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia. No injuries have been reported and 400 students were evacuated safely from Tabb, South Tabb, French, and South Ruffner dormitories and moved to the Lancer Gym on campus to spend the night. All classes for Wednesday have been cancelled. The Ruffner complex, which includes Grainger Hall, West Ruffner, East Ruffner, South Ruffner and the landmark Rotunda have been undergoing a major $12 million renovation over the past year. Firefighters from Farmville, Hampden-Sydney College, Prince Edward County and surrounding areas responded to the fire, which was still ablaze at midnight. Eleven fire companies responded and over 175 firefighters were battling the blaze into the early morning hours according to Tim McKay, chief of the Farmville Fire Department. An early visual assessment of damage at 7:00 am this morning revealed a gutted Rotunda, West Ruffner and East Ruffner halls. Grainger Hall, which was completely renovated about 10 years ago, sustained heavy fire damage to its roof and top floor. Fire officials believe the fire was contained in Grainger to the top floor and the bottom floors sustained extensive water and smoke damage. The Ruffners and the historic Rotunda building, constructed in the 1880s, are the landmark buildings of Longwood College, which was founded as the Farmville Female Seminary in 1839. Located about 60 miles west of Richmond, Virginia, Longwood is a coeducational, state-supported institution with an enrollment of nearly 4000 students. CONTACT: Dennis Sercombe |
||||
 |
|
|
|
|