ISU Fraternity Fire Wasn't Arson: Investigators

Fire investigators said Friday the fire that gutted the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house near Illinois State University's campus wasn't arson.

Despite that announcement, Normal Fire Department officials said they continue to investigate the cause of the Wednesday fire.

"It can take hours or sometimes even days, but given the size of this, it probably will be days," Normal Fire Captain Jim Vaughan said Friday, according to The Pantagraph.

All the men who lived in the two-story building got out safely.

Those 24 students have moved into an on-campus residence hall but hope to move back into the fraternity house. Plans are underway to find housing for the fall semester.

It's unclear whether the house will be repaired or replaced.

The fraternity is accepting financial donations and students have donated clothing for the men.

The fraternity house didn't have sprinklers but was scheduled to get them. The state has mandated sprinklers in all student housing, but the law doesn't take effect until 2013.

Delta Sigma Phi President Mike Dyner of Naperville said Wednesday that a bathroom fan that was sparking in a second-floor ceiling caused the fire, but it has not been confirmed by the fire department.

VIDEO: Inside the burned-out fraternity house

VIDEOAlumni Board President Phil Rodriguez speaks about the fire and the response the fraternity and impacted brothers have received.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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