{
  "id": "2024-01-09-university-of-north-dakota-propane-tank-fire",
  "slug": "university-of-north-dakota-propane-tank-fire-2024-01-09",
  "institution": {
    "name": "University of North Dakota",
    "shortName": "UND",
    "state": "ND",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "UND Alerts"
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-01-09",
    "type": "fire",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "headline": "Propane tanks at a construction site caught fire; two buildings evacuated, no injuries",
    "headlinePublic": "Propane tanks at a construction site caught fire; two buildings evacuated, no injuries",
    "summary": "Around 1:08 p.m. CST on January 9, 2024, the Grand Forks Fire Department was called to [2419 2nd Ave N](https://www.valleynewslive.com/2024/01/09/buildings-evacuated-und-due-gas-leak/) on the University of North Dakota campus for a propane leak, and crews found flames coming from the tops of two large propane tanks being used to heat a construction area. UND evacuated nearby buildings including the [Fritz Pollard Jr. Athletic Center and the EERC](https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/fritz-pollard-athletic-center-eerc-evacuated-following-alert-for-burning-propane-tank), and the state of North Dakota pushed an emergency alert at 1:20 p.m. CST warning of a propane leak near the 2500 block of Second Avenue North. Crews cooled the tanks, shut off the supply valves, and an [all-clear was given](https://www.kvrr.com/2024/01/09/update-all-clear-given-after-gas-leak-reported-on-und-campus/) with no injuries.",
    "outcome": "No injuries were reported. The Grand Forks Fire Department responded with five engines, a ladder truck, a command vehicle and 21 personnel; damage was contained to construction-site materials and the tanks. Investigators ruled the leak accidental, caused by a broken fitting ignited by a nearby heat source.",
    "resolution": "all-clear"
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Approximately 1:20 PM CST on January 9, 2024",
      "channel": "wea-ipaws",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceDescription": "Reconstructed from Valley News Live reporting that the state issued an emergency alert at 1:20 p.m.; exact alert text not published",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Early afternoon, January 9, 2024 (CST)",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "There is a propane leak near the Fritz Pollard Center and EERC. Please avoid the area until emergency crews can mitigate the issue!",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.kvrr.com/2024/01/09/update-all-clear-given-after-gas-leak-reported-on-und-campus/",
      "sourceDescription": "KVRR Local News quoting the UND Alert verbatim",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim UND Alert text as quoted by KVRR Local News on January 9, 2024, directing the campus community to stay away from the Fritz Pollard Center and EERC areas.",
        "The alert was issued after the burning propane tanks near the construction site prompted evacuation of the Fritz Pollard Jr. Athletic Center and Energy & Environmental Research Center."
      ],
      "characterCount": 131
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestampApprox": "Afternoon of January 9, 2024 (CST)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceDescription": "Reconstructed from KVRR reporting that an all-clear was given after the gas leak was contained",
      "annotations": []
    }
  ],
  "context": "The fire broke out at a winter construction area on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks, where two large propane tanks were being used as temporary heat. According to [Valley News Live](https://www.valleynewslive.com/2024/01/09/buildings-evacuated-und-due-gas-leak/), the Grand Forks Fire Department was dispatched to 2419 2nd Ave N around 1:08 p.m. CST on January 9, 2024, after bystanders reported the tanks were on fire, and the state of North Dakota issued an emergency alert at 1:20 p.m. CST warning of a propane leak near the 2500 block of Second Avenue North. The [Grand Forks Herald](https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/fritz-pollard-athletic-center-eerc-evacuated-following-alert-for-burning-propane-tank) reported that the Fritz Pollard Jr. Athletic Center and the EERC were evacuated, and [KVRR](https://www.kvrr.com/2024/01/09/update-all-clear-given-after-gas-leak-reported-on-und-campus/) reported the all-clear after crews controlled the fire and shut off the valves. Investigators determined the leak was accidental, caused by a broken fitting ignited by a nearby heat source. KVRR quoted the UND Alert verbatim: 'There is a propane leak near the Fritz Pollard Center and EERC. Please avoid the area until emergency crews can mitigate the issue!' The state WEA and all-clear texts were not published by local media.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "A construction-heating workaround (two large propane tanks) became the hazard, igniting after a fitting broke near a heat source",
    "Both a state-level wireless emergency alert (1:20 p.m. CST) and UND's own building-evacuation alerts were used, layering municipal and campus notification systems",
    "Named UND buildings, the Fritz Pollard Jr. Athletic Center and the EERC, were evacuated as a precaution; no one was hurt",
    "KVRR quoted the UND Alert verbatim, confirming the building-specific notification text directed the community to avoid the Fritz Pollard Center and EERC; the state WEA and all-clear texts were not reproduced"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Broken fitting on propane tank to blame for propane leak and fire at UND - Valley News Live",
      "url": "https://www.valleynewslive.com/2024/01/09/buildings-evacuated-und-due-gas-leak/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Fritz Pollard Athletic Center, EERC evacuated following alert for burning propane tank - Grand Forks Herald",
      "url": "https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/fritz-pollard-athletic-center-eerc-evacuated-following-alert-for-burning-propane-tank",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "All Clear Given After Gas Leak Reported on UND Campus - KVRR Local News",
      "url": "https://www.kvrr.com/2024/01/09/update-all-clear-given-after-gas-leak-reported-on-und-campus/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "UND Alerts - Emergency Management, University of North Dakota",
      "url": "https://campus.und.edu/safety/emergencies/und-alerts.html",
      "type": "official-archive"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "medium",
  "tags": [
    "fire",
    "propane",
    "construction-site",
    "north-dakota",
    "und",
    "grand-forks",
    "evacuation",
    "emergency-notification"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-28",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-16",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}