Campus Alert Archive
UND

Two Propane Tanks Heating a Construction Site Caught Fire and Emptied the Fritz Pollard Center

NDfireemergency notificationmedium confidence

Around 1:08 p.m. on January 9, 2024, the Grand Forks Fire Department was called to 2419 2nd Ave N 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, and the state of North Dakota pushed an emergency alert at 1:20 p.m. 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 with no injuries.

Alerts
3
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
University of North Dakota
Public R1 · ND
UND Alerts
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTWEA/IPAWS
Approximate reconstruction150 chars
Emergency Alert: Propane leak near the 2500 block of Second Avenue North in Grand Forks. Avoid the area. Follow instructions from emergency personnel.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from reporting that the state of North Dakota issued an emergency alert at 1:20 PM CST on January 9, 2024, warning of a propane leak near the 2500 block of Second Avenue North, about 12 minutes after the 1:08 PM fire call.
The fire involved two large propane tanks being used to heat a UND construction area, with flames coming from the tops of the tanks when crews arrived.
UPDATESMS
Verified verbatimKVRR Local News quoting the UND Alert verbatim131 chars
There is a propane leak near the Fritz Pollard Center and EERC. Please avoid the area until emergency crews can mitigate the issue!
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.
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction183 chars
UND Alert: All clear. The propane tank fire near 2nd Avenue North has been controlled and the supply valves shut off. Evacuated buildings may be reoccupied. No injuries were reported.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed all-clear: KVRR reported an all-clear after crews cooled the tanks enough to shut off the supply valves and control the fire.
The all-clear explicitly lifts the evacuation, distinguishing it from the earlier 'avoid the area' messages issued while the tanks were still burning.
Context

Background

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, the Grand Forks Fire Department was dispatched to 2419 2nd Ave N around 1:08 p.m. 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. warning of a propane leak near the 2500 block of Second Avenue North. The Grand Forks Herald reported that the Fritz Pollard Jr. Athletic Center and the EERC were evacuated, and KVRR 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.
Analysis

Key Findings

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
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.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Broken fitting on propane tank to blame for propane leak and fire at UND - Valley News Live
    valleynewslive.com
  2. News
    Fritz Pollard Athletic Center, EERC evacuated following alert for burning propane tank - Grand Forks Herald
    grandforksherald.com
  3. News
    All Clear Given After Gas Leak Reported on UND Campus - KVRR Local News
    kvrr.com
  4. Official
    UND Alerts - Emergency Management, University of North Dakota
    campus.und.edu
Tags
firepropaneconstruction-sitenorth-dakotaundgrand-forksevacuationemergency-notification
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion