Fire raging at 9:23 p.m. / Payton Gall, KSJB News
UPDATE 11:25 P.M.: According to campus spokeswoman Lisa Jackson, the fire is under control. Cleanup will continue throughout the night. Gas systems have been safely restored and boiler systems are coming back online, hopefully restoring hot water to campus by morning.
KSJB’s Luke Zimmer first alerted first responders of the fire.
ORIGINAL STORY:
For the second time this year, the University of Jamestown is on fire. In January 2025, the kitchen and cafeteria at Badal Nafus Center was damaged badly, rendering it unusable.
Despite being advised to avoid the area, a large crowd of student onlookers gathered, shocked by the scene before them.
Students outside residential buildings, watching the fire at the UJ Badal Nafus Center / Payton Gall, KSJB News
At 8:55 p.m. Thursday, September 11, Jamestown Fire Department crews were mobilized to address a fire that had broken out at the demolition site of the old cafeteria. This is the same building that was on fire in January, currently in the process of being remodeled.
As of 9:34 p.m., the fire had been contained solely to the demolition area, according to Lisa Jackson, a campus spokeswoman. No other buildings have been affected at this point, including the new chapel area, and campus crews have shut off air going into nearby buildings to mitigate potential smoke damage, according to staff on scene.
An hour later, significant progress had been made, and firefighters remained on the scene. Ladders were utilized to get higher angles on the burn.
Students were in disbelief that this was happening once again.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. This is a developing story; check back for updates.
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