Fire Causes Significant Damage to Charles Hall; No Injuries Reported

A fire that broke out just before 4 p.m. on Friday, May 9, caused significant damage to Hesston College’s J.D. Charles Hall of Science and Arts. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

According to state fire investigators, the fire has been ruled accidental, though a definitive cause has not been identified. The fire is believed to have started in the space between the original wood ceiling and the roof, directly above a chemistry classroom. This resulted in substantial smoke damage throughout Charles Hall and into the adjacent Bonnie Sowers Nursing (BSN) Center.

“The structural integrity of the building has been severely impacted,” President Mark Landes shared in an email to faculty and staff. “We were told that the roof was damaged enough that it could collapse at any time. As such, nobody is permitted to enter the building.”

While there does not appear to be structural damage within the BSN Center, elevated carbon monoxide levels and residue on surfaces have rendered the facility temporarily unusable. Access to both buildings remains restricted until further notice.

Kauffman Court residence hall, located directly to the west of Charles Hall, was evacuated during the fire out of caution regarding possible chemical smoke exposure. Fire personnel lifted the restriction just before 8 p.m. Friday, allowing students to safely return to their rooms.

The campus community is pulling together to address urgent needs and ensure a successful last week of school. Faculty and staff affected by the building closures have been relocated to alternate offices and computer labs on campus, and replacement computers are being distributed today as they are available. Final exams originally scheduled in Charles Hall and the BSN Center have been reassigned to alternate locations and communicated to students.

“We ask for your continued prayers and patience in the days ahead,” said Landes. “While this is a significant disruption, it has also been a powerful reminder of the strength and unity of our community. The resilience and collaboration I’ve witnessed from students, faculty and staff over the weekend has been extraordinary.”

As the college begins the process of insurance assessment and long-term recovery planning, many details remain to be determined.

“There’s still much to figure out as we move forward,” Landes said. “But I have no doubt that we will face these next steps with the same care, creativity and commitment to our mission that have long defined Hesston College.”

About J.D. Charles Hall of Science and Arts

J.D. Charles Hall of Science and Arts was erected as a result of a study citing needs for more classrooms, office spaces and better-equipped laboratories on campus. More than 600 people gathered for the dedication on February 4, 1952. Originally, the north wing housed science and math departments while lecture rooms occupied the center section and music and art classrooms the south wing. Charles Hall has been the home of a large collection of wildlife mounts, primarily birds, since the mid 1950s. Charles Hall underwent a renovation in the mid 1990s alongside the addition of Lemons Center on the southwest side of the building. Lemons Center was then expanded and renamed the Bonnie Sowers Nursing Center in 2019.

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