News Release

Campus chiller plant fire contained;
cause is under investigation

CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s North Chiller Plant sustained an as-yet-undetermined amount of damage this (Feb. 16) afternoon, when an area in one of the cooling towers caught fire.

A Chapel Hill firefighter was transported to UNC Hospitals and has since been released. No other injuries were reported, according to UNC’s Department of Public Safety. The UNC Fire Marshal is leading the investigation.

The fire was reported at about 3:50 p.m. and was contained at 4:30 p.m., university officials said. Chapel Hill Fire Department responded to the scene with three engines, a ladder truck, a small truck and 22 personnel, commanded by Battalion Chief Vence Harris. South Orange Emergency Medical Services also was on-site.

The affected chiller plant supplies chilled water for air conditioning on campus. Other chiller plants have enough capacity to handle any need for air conditioning. UNC Hospitals is not served by the North Chiller Plant.

Campus operations have not been affected by the fire, said Lt. Col. Jeff McCracken, UNC Public Safety deputy chief.

UNC’s Fire Marshal’s Office said it is too early in the investigation to make any determinations about the cause. The investigation is continuing.

More information on the North Chiller Plant is available at www.energy.unc.edu/ChilledWater/ncp.asp.

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UNC Public Safety contact: Lt. Col. Jeff McCracken at (919) 966-4994
News Services on-call pager: (919) 962-2091