The Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house at Washington and Lee University sustained "major damage" in a fire early today.
 
The fire began about 4:15 a.m. and appeared to have started outside near the front porch, said Lexington Fire Chief David Clark. The fire climbed up the front of the building and got into the eaves, he said.

When fire companies arrived, there was a heavy blaze at the front of the university-owned building which was largely under control by 5:15 a.m., Clark said. Most of the damage done to the building was caused by water from the sprinklers systems, which went off on all three floors and couldn't be easily shut off. Clark estimated the damage to the building at about $200,000, with $120,000 caused by water.

The fire alarms and sprinkler systems all worked properly, according to a university press release.

The fraternity's house director and 17 students were all safely evacuated, though one was treated for smoke inhalation at Stonewall Jackson Hospital and released. The university will likely relocate the displaced students to the Kappa Sigma fraternity house, the press release said.

"It could have been a heck of a lot worse," said university spokesman Jeffery Hanna. "We can replace houses."

Clark said he believes the fire could have been caused by a cigarette tossed into mulch that had been recently placed near the porch. However, a definite cause has yet to be determined, the chief said. "This is one of those situations where you're probably never going to know exactly what happened."