By: Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
A fire inside Shaw University’s Dimple Newsome Living and Learning Center prompted the evacuation of students Thursday evening and forced the dormitory to close indefinitely as repairs and safety assessments continue.
The Raleigh Fire Department said the fire was reported around 7:15 p.m. and originated in room 313 on the third floor of the building.
Fire officials said the blaze was caused by a space heater powered by an extension cord. Authorities described the incident as an accidental electrical fire, though they could not immediately confirm the exact materials that were ignited.
Students complained of freezing temperatures inside the dorm and the need for a heater, which they acknowledged may have been left on too long and caught onto a bedsheet.
Within four minutes of the fire being reported, firefighters arrived on scene and found students already evacuating the building. Heavy smoke was present on the third floor, and damage to the room was described as moderate. City officials said the damage was confined to the third floor and confirmed the fire was not related to the building’s electrical system.
Multiple students told local media outlets that when they attempted to activate the fire alarm, it did not work. Some said they were forced to alert one another manually as smoke spread through the hallway.
The incident has heightened concerns among students and parents who say the dormitory lacked heat and hot water prior to the fire. Students said university leadership told residents they needed to move out and go home on Friday, prompting some to move back in with their parents.
“We’re pretty much being kicked out. We don’t know when we’ll be able to come back,” a student said.
State records show the dormitory last underwent a state-mandated fire inspection on Dec. 30, 2025. That inspection resulted in six violations related to maintenance and testing schedules and procedures for fire alarms and detection systems. Because it was the university’s first violation, no fine was issued. As of Friday, the university had not yet scheduled a follow-up inspection.
Dimple Newsome Dorm was built in 1970 and has long served as a residential space for Shaw University students. The building was fully evacuated Thursday night and will remain closed while repairs are completed. University officials did not provide a timeline for reopening.
In a statement released to ABC11, Shaw University said, “The well-being of our students and campus community remains our highest priority. A fire occurred on campus last evening in one of our residential facilities. The incident was contained to a single room and was promptly addressed. The University is actively arranging alternative housing accommodations for the students impacted. The residence hall will remain closed while thorough assessments and necessary repairs are completed.”
Shaw later announced it would provide hotel accommodations for displaced students and instructed them to report to the student center to be assigned lodging and transportation.
University officials also acknowledged ongoing heating and hot water issues at the dorm, stating they are aware of the problems and are working to resolve them. “The University takes these concerns seriously, and the health, safety, and well-being of our students remain our highest priority,” the statement read in part. Officials said extreme winter temperatures have placed unusually high demand on campus systems and that the university is responding with “an enhanced, around-the-clock support plan.”
No injuries were reported in connection with the fire, and the Raleigh Fire Department continues to investigate the incident as the university proceeds with repairs and housing arrangements for affected students.
