30th Year, No. 118 The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas Tuesday, April 21, 1970
Union burns
The Kansas Union was ravaged Monday night by a fire that caused extensive damage to 40,000 square feet in the south half of the building.
The fire, confined to the upper half of the building, apparently started near the Fine Room and spread immediately to the roof, which was completely destroyed in the older section of the building.
Bill Rowlands, information counter manager and night manager of the Union, discovered the Union fire. "I heard something pop," he said, "it sounded like a light bulb exploding and I ran upstairs. I think that everyone in the building noticed the smoke about the same time and evacuated the building."
Firetrucks arrived 15 minutes after the fire was reported. Frank Burge, Union director, told firemen when they arrived the fire was confined to the center and western sections of the roof at that time.
After an hour and a half of fighting the fire, flames of 20 to 30 feet shot off the roof and scorched the center tower of the Union.
The intensity of the flames caved in the roof and leaped to the south addition of the building, caving in that section.
The fire was finally brought under control around 2 a.m. today after flames had gutted the top two floors of the Union's main section.
Lawrence Fire Chief Fred Sanders said the fire started near an elevator on the third floor near the Pine Room. "The man in the Union said there was a definite explosion," Sanders said. "It blew plaster off the ceiling and tore off the elevator door."
Later this morning Sanders said it could possibly be three days before the official cause of the fire was known, but added, "In my opinion, it was set."
University of Kansas Chancellor E. Laurence Chalmers, who is in Washington D.C. attending (Continued to page 12)
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Sanders said he reached his conclusion after talking to firemen and policemen at the scene.
"The Kansas Union Building is closed — department managers and those key personnel identified by them will be ad- (Continued to page 12)
"I am tremendously impressed and grateful to the students for their immediate concern and actions during the fire last night."
Later in the morning Burge issued the following statement:
Frank Burges says 'thanks'
Frank Burge, Kansas Union director, issued this statement: early today after the fire at the Kansas Union building:
"I want to express my gratitude to all the many students who helped to save the valuable oil paintings, art objects and furnishings from the fire and water last night. It was a tremendous display of efficiency and effectiveness. I estimate that approximately $50,000 worth of art were rescued by students."
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"Many students helped to combat the fire by aiding firemen with hoses, some even working on the burning west roof of the building. Many students brought coffee and doughnuts for the firemen and volunteered to help the police keep the crowds from interfering with the work of the firemen.
"The students were willing to do anything within their power to hold damage to the Union building to a minimum and aid the authorities in any way they could.
Photo by Ron Bishop
All that remains . . .
Lawrence firemen continued to pour water on the charred ruins of the Kansas Union Ballroom early this morning. A small fire broke out in the smouldering insulation of what was once the ceiling of the Ballroom and the roof of the Union.
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