Sprinkler installation at fraternity house begins

? The installation of sprinkler systems in Nebraska Wesleyan University buildings has begun, six weeks after fraternity house fire left one student dead and three others injured.

Trucks pulled up this week to Centennial Hall – the campus’ largest residence hall – to begin a $75,000 sprinkler installation that’s expected to be finished before students return to campus Jan. 22.

The hall is the first of 13 buildings – five residence halls and eight Greek houses – set to have the systems installed.

Ryan Stewart, 19, of Ord died the morning of Nov. 17 from injuries sustained in the fire that raged in the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house early that same day. Three other residents were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and have since recovered. Investigators have not yet released a determination on what caused the fire, but noted that the house did not have a sprinkler system.

Equipping the campus with sprinkler systems will cost an estimated $600,000.