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Victims of the Pyramid Apartments Fire Are Remembered on the 25th Anniversary

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Student Affairs at SIU-Carbondale held a memorial service for the five university students that died in an early morning fire at Pyramid Apartments 25 years ago.

The service Wednesday was held at the memorial stone near the boat dock on Campus Lake.
Former Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole was president of SIU's undergraduate Student Government when the fire occurred on December 6th, 1992. He spoke at Wednesday's service and recited what he said at the first memorial event less than a week after the fire.
 
"I think remembering those words and remembering the students, remembering what a difficult time it was on campus, a time that campus actually came together like never before and supported each other, I think that is what we should do today and remember that."

Current Carbondale Mayor Mike Henry spoke on how this tragedy impacted more than the local community.
 
"One of the most important purposes of this memorial service is to remember not only the students who died in the fire but to also reflect on the lives of our students, their parents, those communities around the world who's lives were forever changed that morning 25 years ago today."

The fire was ruled an arson almost immediately after the investigation started.

Multiple agencies investigated the incident, including Carbondale, SIU and State Police, the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office and the ATF.

Carbondale Police still have a $6000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Others were injured in the 1992 fire trying to escape by jumping from the second and third floors and from smoke inhalation.

 

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