The Ohio State community experienced a tragic loss when when five college students died early yesterday morning in a fire that gutted a house at 64 E. 17th Ave.

“After an anonymous 911 call firefighters arrived at the scene at approximately 4:05 and found five bodies on the second floor,” said Sgt. Dana Norman of the Columbus Division of Police.

According to Norman, the occupants hosted an early morning party consisting of 70 to 80 people. He said an argument had broken out between 3:15 to 3:30 a.m. Soon afterwards the Columbus Division of Fire was called to the scene to fight the blaze.

“The fire started in the front of the house and all the bodies were found upstairs. Firemen were able to save three victims out of the back of the house,” Norman said.

The OSU students were identified as Alan R. Schlessman, 21, of Sandusky, and Kyle Raulin, 21, of West Chester. Two of the three OU students were identified as Andrea K. Dennis, 20, of Madeira, and Erin M. DeMarco, 19, of Canton.

Dr. Brad Lewis, the Franklin County coroner, told The Associated Press the victims died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. The autopsies are planned for today.

According to NorthSteppe Realty, Inc., the manager of the property, the building was equipped with six fire detectors, and the detectors were in working condition. A NorthSteppe manager said one eyewitness confirmed that he could hear an alarm sound from inside the house during the fire.

Sgt. Brent Mull of the Columbus Division of Police said smoke detectors were present, and it is still being investigated if they were properly working.

Jennifer Lehran, an Ohio University student, was one of the three victims saved by a firefighter and taken to the Ohio State University Hospitals.

“My boyfriend lived there, and we were sleeping in the back bedroom by the stairwell. I didn’t even know there was a fire.” Lehran said. “It was so hot.”

Lehran was treated and released along with another woman from Ohio University.

Lehran’s boyfriend, Josh Patterson, is an OSU student and is being treated at OSU Medical Center.

Elizabeth Palmer, a senior in speech and hearing sciences, watched the fire from her house across the street.

“The smell of smoke woke me up, and the flames were like a story high. I could feel the heat from over here,” she said.

Palmer said it looked like the front porch of the house caught fire first then jumped onto the roof next door.

Two neighboring houses were affected by the fire. One was located on each side of the house. The residence on the west side of the house, 58 E. 17th Ave., experienced the most damage of the two. The roof on the east side of that apartment complex – which was burnt by the fire – collapsed, causing all residents to disperse.

Nichole Stevenson, a senior in sociology and resident of the apartment, said she was sleeping when the fire broke out.

“I was woken up by a neighbor pounding on the door, and all I could see out the window was flames,” she said. “We were out five minutes before the whole house went up in flames.”

Stevenson said the roof is gone in two to four bedrooms of the apartment complex.

The other house on the east side of the fire, 68 E. 17th Ave., received minimal damage.

Erica Frank, an undecided sophomore, said she knew the residents of the house. 

“I lived with some of them in Steeb Hall last year. This is such a terrible, tragic thing,” Frank said. “I want everyone to know that nobody who lived here would provoke such a terrible thing.”

Also on the scene was Jim Gebhart, a chaplain with the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Team.

He said a team of eight to 10 Red Cross workers were at the Ohio Union to help the university with any needs resulting from the fire.

At a press conference held yesterday afternoon, OSU President Karen A. Holbrook and Mayor Michael B. Coleman each gave a statement concerning the fire.

“We are clearly a community in mourning. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those of the young people that lost their lives and to those who were injured,” Holbrook said.

She said the university is doing everything in its power to provide support and comfort for those in need.

“This fire is one of the most deadly and tragic fires to ever occur in the city of Columbus,” Coleman said. “I would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratefulness to our safety forces – both police and fire – who not only responded to the call but put their lives above others and in fact saved the lives of three victims.”

Mull, who was present at the press conference, said because of the nature of the fire, the Columbus Police Homicide Unit was called to assist in the investigation. He said the Homicide Unit was called to assist with the case. There is no confirmation that the fire is arson.

Coleman said any time there is a death as a result of fire there is a complete and intense investigation.

Also at the press conference was Bill Hall, vice president for Student Affairs.

“Our focus is taking care of human needs,” Hall said. “We are still getting confirmation, and we know we had students from other universities and we are currently working with vice presidents of those universities to notify that some of their students may be been involved.”

He said he has a list of 33 students from the three houses affected by the fire. Hall said arrangements for housing, food and other needs are under way for the victims.

Hall said the Student Advocacy Center is staying open for those in need. The center can be reached at 292-1111.

Mull asked if anyone had any information concerning the cause of the fire to call the Homicide Unit at 645-4730.