Boise State students say fire sprinkler set off in dorm ruined their belongings
A Boise State University student and her roommates are hoping to raise $2,000 to replace their personal belongings that were ruined after their dorm room fire sprinkler “turned on unexpectedly,” according to a GoFundMe fundraiser.
Bella Baker, who attends Boise State, created the GoFundMe page after her dorm room was flooded last week, the page said. University spokesperson Mike Sharp confirmed the incident and said a resident “accidentally triggered” a sprinkler, setting it off.
Baker in the post said the water out of the sprinkler was black and “left a foul-smelling scent” that ruined all of their personal belongings. Sharp told the Idaho Statesman by email that the non-drinkable water found in functioning sprinkler systems sits in the pipes for “long periods of time” so it’s ready to extinguish fires when necessary. He added that the water was “consistent” with what they’d expect to see from a sprinkler system.
“In this instance, the sprinkler performed as it was intended to operate,” Sharp said by email.
The students may qualify for Boise State’s Student Emergency Fund, Sharp said, which provides financial assistance to students in danger of withdrawing because of “unanticipated, temporary financial hardships” from emergencies. If they qualify, the students could receive up to $500.
While the fund likely wouldn’t cover replacing the students’ belongings, it might cover their insurance deductibles, Sharp said. Students who live on campus also have the option for renter’s insurance.
“Our Residence Life Team met with the affected residents to discuss the need to move and to provide them with the necessary support,” Sharp said. “While this is difficult for all involved, we will continue to do our best to minimize the impact.”
The fundraiser has raised a little over $100 as of Monday afternoon.
“Anything helps, we just need to replace our school supplies and clothing,” Baker wrote on the page.
