OXFORD — Firefighters say their high-tech thermal imaging camera might have saved a Miami University senior injured in an early morning fire Friday at the Sigma Chi house on the edge of the Miami campus.

        “That greatly helped, given the smoke conditions we had in that building,” Oxford Fire Chief Len Endress said. “It very well could have made the difference between life and death.”

Oxford Fire Chief Len Endress inspects the second floor of the Sigma Chi house. (Michael Snyder photos) | ZOOM |

        Robert Ammarell, a 21-year-old zoology major from Nashville, Tenn., was in critical condition at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton suffering from smoke inhalation. He was airlifted there from McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital after being rescued, Chief Endress said.

        Firefighters found Mr. Ammarell, who was unconscious but breathing, in a third-floor room, the chief said.

        Thermal imaging cameras can spot a fire victim through heavy smoke. Many Tristate fire departments are buying the cameras, which can cost $20,000 or more. Oxford's has been in service for two years, but this was the first time it was used in a rescue, officials said.

        Firefighters helped several other people from the burning frat house.

        “We were able to walk the majority of them out,” Chief Endress said.

Fraternity members wait to be allowed in to recover whatever possessions survived the fire, and subsequent smoke and water damage. | ZOOM |

        Most of the residents were outside when firefighters arrived. Firefight ers were called to the house at 401 E. Sycamore St. shortly after 5 a.m. and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the second floor of the large brick structure. The blaze started in a student's room on the second floor, fire officials said.

        The cause remains under investigation, but the fire is not considered suspicious, Chief Endress said. A damage estimate has not been determined.

        There were some operating smoke detectors in the building, the chief said.

        It took fire crews from four departments about 40 minutes to knock out the fire, the chief said. The second floor had extensive fire damage, and there was smoke and water damage throughout the structure. The house will remain off limits for the remainder of the semester. The fraternity has insurance on the structure.

        Chapter adviser Dustin Buecker said he wasn't prepared for the damage he saw Friday. “It leaves a knot in your stomach,” he said.

        Mr. Buecker said he was pleased that the first-floor library was not damaged. That's where much of the chapter's memorabilia and history are kept. He said plans are to refurbish the house.

        “We're trying to make the best of a bad situation,” Mr. Buecker said. “We're going to pull together.”

        Greeks from other fraternities and sororities joined student organizations, businesses and community groups in offering support to the men left homeless, campus officials said. Of the 40 or so students who lived in the house, 23 have accepted the university's offer of housing at Hepburn Hall.

        Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report.

Frat house fire leaves one injured
Fraternity founded on campus in 1855