Seton Hall University Fire Survivors to Describe Ordeal

The deadly Seton Hall University dormitory fire on January 19, 2000 that killed three students and injured 58 others was one of the worst college fires in recent U.S. history.

Two of the survivors of that fire, Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos, will appear at Montclair State University on Monday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium to tell the remarkable story of their escape and courageous fight to recover from their terrible burns.

Joining them will be New York Times best-selling author, Robin Gaby Fisher, who wrote about the ordeal of these two young men in her book, After the Fire. The book documents the story of the two Boland Hall roommates and the many people—doctors, nurses, family, friends— who have been instrumental in their recoveries. It also describes the twists and turns in the search for the arsonists, who ultimately were discovered to be fellow students who started the fire as a prank.

Presented by the Department of Fire Safety and Residential Education and Services, the event is free and open to all members of the University community and the public.

For more information, contact the Department of Fire Safety at fire@mail.montclair.edu.