Kappa Sigma frat brothers saw flicker of light before fire, called 911

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Fire destroys Radford fraternity house - July 8, 2009

 

Several hours after it was engulfed in flames on Wednesday the Kappa Sigma fraternity house was smoldering, smoke was floating through the air and ashes were everywhere.

If you take a walk on Clement street you’ll cleary see the act of an arsonist.

“Previously to the fire we didn’t see anyone around,“ said Fraternity President Stephen Hoffman.

He and frat brother Wil Sterchi say they were across the street last night when they saw a flicker of light at the Kappa Sigma house.

Sterchi called 911.

“I expected once I called they’d be there and you know maybe one or two rooms would burn and it would be out,“ said Sterchi. “By the time they got there the entire second and third floor was engulfed.“

Along with the house memories of the times the guys spent there went up in smoke.

“I’ve had so many good memories living in that house. I lived there one year actually and so many good memories in every room,“ said Sterchi.

Now, investigators are looking for the arsonist who set them on fire.

Just last Thursday Fire Chief Lee Simpkins says someone set two mattresses on fire on the first floor.

He suspects that same person probably came back, but *this time* left nothing behind.

“Just a very senseless act that’s not any fun at all,“ said Simpkins.

He says the worst thing about this fire is that it could have cost a firefighter his life and also cost the thousands of dollars to fight.

The chief tells WSLS the fraternity house was slated to be torn down by developers in the coming weeks.

Unfortunately someone beat them to the punch and burned it down instead.

If you have any information, you’re urged to call Radford police at (540) 731-3626.