Issue 4 The Student Newspaper of Cowley College
THE COWLEY PRESS www.cowleypress.com
October 18, 2007
Arkansas City, Kan.
Young life taken in early morning blaze BY ALEX SKOV Managing Editor
H
uman nature dictates that tragedy draws people’s attention like moths to a light. Connecting a second-hand story to a visual puts that tragedy into perspective. And although yellow caution tape can be stepped over, a natural quarantine is respected; a line drawn tells a person when they have seen enough. Freshman Eli Hilderbrand died due to smoke inhalation in a house fire just blocks away from campus at 109 N. Fourth St., during the early morning hours of Tuesday, Oct. 2. Smoke inhalation is the tentative cause of death. Eli Hilderbrand and his brother, sophomore Ty Hilderbrand, lived in the lower section of the house, which served as a four-plex apartment building. “[The fire] started on the front porch,” Arkansas City Fire Chief Randy Leach said. The front porch was often the site of socialization. Leach said that witnesses reported those hanging out on the porch often tossed cigarette butts into a garbage can. The fire started as a result of “improperly discarded smoking material,” according to a press release from the Arkansas City Fire Department. “All [that] we know is from interviews with people,” Leach said. Leach went on to explain that a cigarette “could smolder for a very, very long time” in a couch or garbage can, but that once a flame ignited it would take “a very small [amount] of time to progress” to a full-blown blaze. “The front windows had been blown out by the time it was noticed by the occupants,” Leach said. Of the four apartments, three were occupied. With the exception of Eli Hilderbrand, everyone fled the house safely. “He [Eli] did wake his brother up,” Leach said, referring to statements that Eli Hilderbrand had been the only tenant awake when the fire broke out. Some speculation remains as to whether the fire started at 3 a.m. or earlier in the
morning, around 1:30 a.m. “I can’t answer that,” Leach said. “There could be the possibility [that the fire was seen] and could have been mistaken for a charcoal grill.” If, in fact, witnesses did see flames prior to 3 a.m., Leach said “people see a fire and assume it has been called in.” The call to report the blaze came from about one block away from the house itself at 3:05 a.m. The first fire trucks arrived on the scene at 3:07 a.m. “Rumors say that it took 15-20 minutes for the fire department to get there,” Leach said. “We had a two minute response time.” Another rumor that has plagued the college comEli Hilderbrand lived in an apartment on the lower level of the house at 109 N. Fourth Street. Boards were munity is that placed on the front of the house for support after the Oct. 2 fire. (Photo by Callie Maxwell) firefighters from the Winfield Fire Department arrived before ACFD. “Ark City got there first,” said Winfield Fire Chief Curtis Wilson, “and from what I understand their crews had a really BY ALEX SKOV Hilderbrand in the hours he spent at the good knock-down before we showed up.” Managing Editor Wellness Center. An automatic aid agreement between “He was just a really special guy,” the two fire departments ensures that when Eli Hilderbrand, who hailed from McKown said. “My heart goes out to his a structure fire is reported in either town, Purcell, Okla., was lively and well-liked family and Ty.” both will be on-hand to assist in controlling around campus. In high school, HilderOn the night of Oct. 3, more than 50 the blaze. brand played football for the Purcell Dragpeople participated in a vigil for HilderAll accounts state that the Oct. 2 fire ons and sang in the school choir. Among brand outside of the fire-marred house. A was out by 3:30 a.m. his activities at Cowley was a work-study temporary fence separated the attendees “It was like any other normal structure position in the Wellness Center. from the grounds, but the light from their fire scene,” Leach said. Wellness Center Director Gina McKcandles made their presence unmistakable. See Fire, page 4 own said that Hilderbrand “came in on Three pastors from churches in Cowley the perfect day” in August. She had been County came to the vigil, as did two area talking about needing another work-study Catholic priests. Elizabeth Pool, a neighbor student on the day he arrived. of Hilderbrand’s, brought out numerous “He just fit the classic mold,” McKown rosaries for those who wanted them. said. “All the people that work here are After the vigil, an impromptu memorithe low count of 132 spores, while room 401 very personable. He was very outgoing. In al was set up around the mailboxes in front had the high of 667. some aspects he was quiet and reserved, of the apartments, complete with stuffed Outside, however, showed a count but once you got to know him, he was a animals and flowers. of 9,491 spores. This is a typical spore riot.” Hilderbrand’s funeral was held at 10 count for this time of year considering the On Oct. 1, he received a promotion. a.m. on Oct. 6 at Goldsby Funeral Home in weather conditions. “I was so thrilled,” McKown said. “It Goldsby, Okla. Burial took place in Hillside According to the Natural Resources was the first day of his promotion here and Cemetary in Purcell. Defense Council, when a home has a count he was going to show me [that he deserved Funds to assist with funeral costs have of more than 1,300 mold spores it is a it]. We worked late.” been established at the First American “moldy home” and deemed unsuitable for As with any death, Hilderbrand’s pass- Bank in Purcell and with Union State Bank. habitation. This varies according to location ing has taken a high emotional toll. Donations to the First American Bank fund and conditions. Counselor Roy Reynolds said he has can be made by contacting Ellen Bebout at “The results show spore counts in all dealt with “somewhere between five and (405) 366-3223, and those wishing to donate the complaint areas, however, the counts in 10 students” as a direct result. to the Eli Hilderbrand Memorial Fund can the building do not indicate anything out “In general, it’s safe to say that they’re do so at any Union State Bank location. of the ordinary based on the count from adjusting to this new reality,” Reynolds Those struggling to cope with the loss outside the building,” said Leon Conway, said. “They’re making adjustments and of Hilderbrand are encouraged to visit an investigator for PES. making progress.” Reynolds in the Student Counseling office See Test results, page 4 McKown had the chance to bond with located just off the Jungle.
Campus community mourns loss
Kimmell tests negative for mold BY JOSH PATTON Opinions Editor Precision Environmental Services (PES) was on campus Oct 1 to conduct two different kinds of tests on the substance in Kimmell dorm. One was an air quality test and was administered in four different areas: rooms 301 and 401, apartment 212 and outside the northwest corner of the building. The second test was a tape-lift sample also administered in four locations: the ceiling by the ducts in rooms 401 and 201, the ceiling by the vent on the fourth floor lobby, and inside the lobby air duct. The tests results were in on Oct 3. The outcome of the air testing showed various mold spores in all locations. Room 212 had
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