MARSHALLTOWN – Early morning on Sunday, Sept. 29, at about 2 a.m., a grease fire broke out in one of the suite apartments of the South Hall dorm on the Marshalltown Community College campus. The sprinkler and alarm systems were activated and residents were quickly evacuated.

No injuries occurred in the evacuation or the fire, but the building experience significant water damage.

Forty-seven students and one MCC staff member have been relocated by the fire. Everyone was moved to a local hotel while awaiting clearance to return to the dorm. Shuttle services is available to these students to campus for class, meals and athletic practices.

“I would really like to thank all of our hard-working housing staff and all of the other employees and student housing Residence Assistants who have helped during this time,” said MCC Provost Robin Lilienthal.

Those who would like to donate to these students can contribute to the Tiger Vault; donations can be dropped off outside of the Residence Life offices in MCC’s Faust Union. The students are specifically in need of toiletries and cleaning supplies.

In their most recent update, LJ Roth said that on average it takes four days to dry out everything, but many factors affect the actual time. Once drying is complete and before renovations begin workers will conduct an air quality test, assess structural items in each apartment, and do deep cleaning. At this time a completion date has not been announced.