Flames leaped from the third floor of Hill Hall on the Savannah State University campus Monday evening. The roof, which was replaced during the first phase of renovations, collapsed in several places. MORRIS NEWS SERVICE

Fire guts historical building

Web posted May 10, 2000

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By Erik Tryggestad and Ann Stifter
Morris News Service

SAVANNAH -- Tywan Gonzalez was finishing one of his final exams when he heard the sirens Monday night.

``I wondered what was going on, because they sounded close,'' said Mr. Gonzalez, a junior at Savannah State University and forward for the Tigers men's basketball team.

He walked outside, and his fears were confirmed.

``Oh no. Of all the buildings, not this one,'' he said.

Flames were pouring out of the upper windows of Hill Hall, a 99-year-old building on the school's campus that was undergoing renovation.

The three-story former dormitory, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, sustained extensive damage from the blaze, which firefighters battled for more than four hours, said Savannah Fire spokesman Capt. Anthony Faust.

On Tuesday, investigators said the fire was started by a cutting torch being used in the dormitory's renovation.

Tory Graham, a freshman at Savannah State, was walking out of the gym when he saw the blaze. He ran into Peacock Hall and dialed 911. The dispatcher said help was on the way.

``They kept asking me, `How bad is it? How bad is it?' I said `It's bad enough that you need to get here fast!'''

The fire departments started getting calls at about 6:28 p.m. and were at the scene two minutes later, Capt. Faust said.

Firefighters from Savannah Fire Department and Thunderbolt's volunteer fire department tackled the blaze.

``When we got on the scene, we went on the defensive pretty quick,'' Capt. Faust said. The flames were so dangerous that firefighters backed away from the structure and doused it with water for more than two hours. Still, there were visible flames near the roof of the building, which collapsed in several places.

``We're going to be here for quite some time,'' said Battalion Chief W. Frank Cook just before 8 p.m.

About 40 Savannah firefighters were involved in the operation, Capt. Faust said, in addition to the Thunderbolt squad and firefighters from Isle of Hope. No injuries were reported.

Because the building is part of a state university, its owner is the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents. The fire is being investigated by the office of state Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine, Capt. Faust said.

Savannah State spokeswoman Loretta Heyward said the building was in the second phase of a three-phase renovation. When completed, it would house the enrollment management center, including offices for admissions, financial aid and the registrar.