March 28, 2026
CHAMPAIGN, IL – A single fire sprinkler extinguished bedding that was ignited by a candle in a student apartment. The fire, located on the third floor, was extinguished before fire crews arrived. “This is a newer apartment building on campus that replaced one that wasn’t protected by sprinklers, so this could have been a very different outcome,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Jeremy Mitchell.
Source: Jeremy Mitchell, Deputy Fire Marshal, Champaign Fire Department