A 19-year-old woman student was critically burned and seven MIT policemen were treated for smoke inhalation Monday night after a fire broke out at about 9:15 in her dorm room in Random Hall, 282 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge.
The woman, a sophomore, was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where she was reported in critical condition with burns over more than half her body.
Seven of MIT's 40 patrolmen were treated and released at MGH and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital for inhaling smoke while rescuing her and attempting to put out the fire. They were identified as Sean C. Munnelly, who pulled her out of the fire; John W. Carr; Clarence A. Henniger; Kevin P. Kirchdorfer; Donald P. Miller; Ronald B. Ward and Joseph S. West.
The building, home to 93 students, was evacuated for several hours. About a dozen students who lived on the fourth floor at 282 Mass. Ave. were allowed to return to their dorm rooms at 2am, house officials said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation Tuesday morning.
