Fire in residence hall room displaces 8 University of Michigan students

Eight University of Michigan students were displaced for at least the night after a fire that started in a microwave in the Baits housing complex spread to a resident's room, university officials said.

No one was injured in the 3 p.m. fire in the Cross House of Baits on North Campus.

Diane Brown, a spokeswoman for the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, said a resident was reheating food in a microwave, and it appears aluminum foil caught fire.

He attempted to take the food out, but burning pieces of the foil fell on clothing and ignited it, Brown said. The resident evacuated and called for help.

When Ann Arbor firefighters arrived at the three-story building off Hubbard Street, they saw heavy smoke coming from the room, Battalion Chief Chuck Hubbard said.

All the residents in the building were evacuated, but many weren't home since it was a Sunday afternoon, Brown said.

The building doesn't have a fire suppression system, but doors kept the fire from spreading to adjoining rooms, Brown said. The hallway had smoke damage, and adjacent rooms also may have some smoke damage, Hubbard said.

University housing is assisting the eight students who will be unable to return tonight, Brown said. It's unclear how long they will be displaced, but officials expect to know more in the morning.

A damage estimate is not yet available, but Hubbard said the room where the fire originated was severely damaged.