Decorative Cotton Balls Catch Fire In Downtown Fraternity House

Engine 1 responded to a fraternity house at 201 West Lakelawn Place for a fire alarm. 

Evacuation was in progress as firefighters arrived but no alarm was sounding. 

Upon investigation, Engine 1 found that a lighter had been used and ignited cotton balls along the ceiling that were there as decoration. The fire was out prior to firefighters' arrival, but the nearest smoke detector was damaged as a result of the fire. 

Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to confirm there were no other heat signatures remaining. 

Occupants were advised to remove any remaining cotton balls, call the alarm company to have the damaged smoke detector replaced, and to not to silence future fire alarms.