Water, steam emergencies, frigid temps trip AK school

Almost 200 students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks faced a temporary threat of no housing Monday after an underground water main and steam line ruptured as temperatures hovered around 40 degrees below zero.

By around 8:30 p.m. Alaska time, the campus found housing for about 15 students whose living quarters were damaged in the incident that temporarily cut off heat and water to several residential buildings as well as the chancellor's residence and one other building that houses fire, police and health services, campus spokeswoman Marmian Grimes said.

The school was not sure why the underground lines ruptured, but crews were working all day to repair them, she said.