Officials have not yet determined the exact cause of the fire, according to Hanover Fire Department Captain Mike Gilbert.
The Hanover Fire Department received the first alarm at 5:27 a.m., Gilbert said in an interview with The Dartmouth. The fire was observed by first responders in a wall before it was discovered in the attic. The third floor of the building suffered heavy fire damage, he said, while the entire physical plant suffered water damage from the sprinkler system.
Gilbert said that the fire likely burned for multiple hours before breaking out of the wall, causing the fire alarms to activate. Fire marshals have been interviewing students as they continue to investigate the incident, he said.
Because of the extensive damage to the building's interior due to the fire and sprinkler system, Gilbert estimated the building will likely not be habitable for the remainder of the school year.
Twenty five members of Phi Delt were living in the house at the time of the fire and all members have been temporarily relocated to College residence halls, Adams said.
This is a breaking news update. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
