Last night, students in the Fresno State Birch Hall were evacuated after one dorm room caught fire from a battery spark.

Flames were seen from across other dorm halls. Students gathered from the top of their dorm balconies to see a fire truck parked on campus at around 9 p.m. 

The Fresno State Police Department (PD) received a fire alarm alert from the west wing of Birch Hall at 8:30 p.m., according to Student Housing and campus PD officials in a statement to The Collegian. 

“The residents were evacuated for approximately 20 minutes. The fire was put out with a fire extinguisher by our housing residential staff,” the statement said. 

There were no injuries from the accident, according to the statement; after a collaborative effort from Fresno State PD and the city of Fresno Fire Department, the damage was minimal, and officials determined the building was safe to enter. 

The statement also said “alternate accommodations” will be made for the residents whose room was damaged by the flames. 

“Thankfully there were no injuries… We are grateful to our housing staff, our Fresno State police officers and the City of Fresno Fire Department who assisted in ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved,” the statement said.