ATLANTA — Doze. ns of Georgia State University students have been forced out of their dorm rooms after a small fire Monday afternoon
11Alive SkyTracker flew over the Patton Hall Dorms at 160 Edgewood Avenue NE, where several firetrucks were spotted responding. Video, taken by one of the students who lives there, shows smoke coming from one of the dorm rooms.
"I hear the alarm going off, I'm like, 'What in the world is going on?' I scramble to get down, put on my shoes, I leave my phone," GSU student Jack Gregory recalled.
Students said the fire happened around 2:30 p.m.
"I thought it was a drill so I went downstairs and I smelled the real smoke and was like, 'Whoa this is a real fire, that's crazy,"' GSU student Cam Cleveland said.
Nearly eight hours after the fire, students said they were finally allowed to go back inside their rooms to grab their belongings. However, students said they were told they'd be out of their rooms for several days. The students added they were frustrated because they had no idea where they would be staying.
GSU officials said they are in the process of assessing the damage, which prompted the sprinklers to be activated.
"We will be communicating with residents and offering them spaces on campus for relocation as needed," a GSU spokesperson said in a statement.
The university added it is also advising those impacted to file a claim with their renter's insurance or parent's homeowners insurance if they have any damage to personal items.
Photos | Fire at GSU's Patton Hall Dorms
11Alive has reached out to Atlanta Fire officials for more information on how the fire started.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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