Approximately 150 University of Missouri-Rolla students were evacuated this morning from the Thomas Jefferson Residence Hall Complex on the UMR campus after a fire in the cafeteria was reported to Rolla Fire and Rescue.

Dana Barnard, TJ Hall resident director, reporter the fire to the UMR Police Department, who notified Rolla Fire and Rescue at 6:49 a.m. Students were evacuated from the two residence hall towers and many were shuttled to the nearby Residential College.

Rolla Fire and Rescue officials determined there was a small fire in a cold-air return vent in the Thomas Jefferson Hall cafeteria.

Insulation was smoldering and paper in the vent area had been burned. Damage was minimal and was confined to the vent area and the boiler room in the basement below. The cause of the fire is not determined at this time. There were no injuries.

The building has now been cleared and students are returning to their rooms.

Student capacity of the Thomas Jefferson Residence Hall Complex is 850 students. Between 660 and 700 students are expected to be in residence there when the semester begins Monday, Jan.8. Today is a move-in day for students, so very few were in the building yet.