PHOTOS: An early morning fraternity fire at Nebraska Wesleyan University killed one person and critically injured three others fifteen years ago today.
Lincoln firefighters said the blaze at the three-story Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house started about 4 a.m.
The 78-year-old house, the second-oldest building on the campus in north-central Lincoln, was owned by the fraternity and was on the National Register of Historic Places.
One student, a 19-year-old sophomore from Ord, died from smoke inhalation, and three other fraternity members were critically injured.
The blaze occurred on the second night of "activation," or initiation ceremonies, for 16 new fraternity members. Thirty-nine people were in the house when the fire was reported.
Firefighters broke down at least three bedroom doors to reach some fraternity members.