Students – Please work directly with JMU’s Office of Residence Life
Families – Please contact JMU’s Office of Family Engagement with questions and encourage your student to check their email for updates.
Email sent to residents of Garber Hall Section A (with exception to suites 301 and 302) on 2/15/2025 at 12:18 p.m.
Thank you for connecting with JMU staff as we are appreciative of your patience and responsiveness. We want to provide you with a few updates, specific to Section A.
Retrieving Items
Many of you have already retrieved your items and are settled into a new space. This email provides guidance to any residents who need to retrieve items from your room in Garber Hall and get settled into your new space. Please take what you need for the next few days.
To access your room in Garber Hall, please call JMU Police Department (540-568-6913), who will let you into the Garber Hall A Section to retrieve your belongings. JMU PD prefers taking in groups, so please coordinate together with your suite mates to go into the space. JMU PD will be available Saturday and Sunday before 6 p.m.
Additionally, if you want to move your items from your space to the Garber Hall Lounge, reach out to JMUPD to get access to your room and then your Hall Director, Megan Gillispie, to place your items in storage for the evening.
Checking into Double Tree (1400 East Market Street)
Many of you are settled into the Double Tree Hotel. If you have not checked into the hotel yet, you can go to the front desk at any time to check. You will need to share your name and that you’re a Garber Resident.
Additional needs
If you have specific needs in regard to your classes, equipment or other needs, please contact the Dean of Students, Dr. Hollie Hall at hall4hm@jmu.edu.
We are here to support you and be a resource. Thank you!
Email sent to Garber Hall, section B and C residents on 2/14/25 at 4:07 p.m.
We want to again thank you for your patience and cooperation as this disruption was unexpected for us all.
Sections B and C of Garber Hall have been cleared and opened back up to the university.
As a resident of these two sections, you will be permitted to return to your room around 4 p.m. today (Feb. 14).
No one will be permitted to access Section A until further notice.
Even though you are able to return to your room, the university will continue to support you during this challenging time. Should you have any questions or additional needs, please contact Residence Life.
Please continue checking your email as this will be the primary method of communication surrounding this issue and there will likely be updates.
Thank you again for your cooperation as we navigated this emergency event together.
Email sent to Garber Hall, section A residents (with the exception of the two suites that have been permanently moved) on 2/14/25 at 3:26 p.m.
We want to again thank you for your patience and cooperation as this disruption was unexpected for us all.
Double Tree Hotel
The university will be moving you to the Double Tree Hotel (1400 East Market Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801). Residence Life Staff will be in Huffman Hall Lounge until 5 p.m. today. All incidentals will be turned off and you will be responsible for any purchases at the hotel.
No one will be permitted to access Section A until further notice.
Transition to the Hotel
We have arranged transportation for you to the Double Tree Hotel. The first shuttle will leave Huffman Hall at Bluestone Drive at 3:00p.m. Staff members can help you get to that location from Huffman Hall Lounge.
Shuttle System
There will be a continuous shuttle from Godwin Transit to the Double Tree Hotel starting at 3:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m for today. The shuttle will continue this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 11p.m. Starting on Monday the shuttle will begin at 7a.m. to 11p.m.
Laundry
Laundry will not be available at the Double Tree Hotel. However, laundry will be free in Garber Hall and laundry service will be provided by University Cleaners. Information will be emailed to you.
Parking
Any Garber resident that needs a parking permit can go through the parking website portal and look for the “Garber fire temporary permit” and they will be able log in to download the parking pass on their own.
Communication
Please continue to monitor your JMU email. We will communicate with you as we have more updates.
Thank you again for your cooperation as we navigated this emergency event together.
Residence Life Staff
Res-life@jmu.edu
Email sent to Garber Hall residents on 2/14/25 at 9:15 a.m.
Garber Hall Residents,
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we continue to work through the logistics as a result of the fire that occurred overnight. Below you will find very important information as a status update.
All Sections (A, B and C):
If you stayed in Hotel Madison last night, please check out of the hotel by 11 a.m.
A shuttle bus will run from Hotel Madison to Huffman Hall from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Huffman Hall will be a place where residents can connect with the Office of Residence Life and drop off any bags until you are able to return to your room.
All residents of Garber Hall are encouraged to check in with the Office of Residence Life today.
Notification has been made with faculty, so your professors are aware of this incident.
Please continue to avoid Garber Hall at this time; however, time will be made later today if you need additional personal items.
Residents will not be allowed to access section A for a longer period of time.
If you do not have your JACard, please download Mobile ID to access dining facilities.
Sections B and C:
Crews will be walking through the residence hall to determine when it would be permissible for students to return.
Section A:
Because the fire was isolated to the top floor of this section, it will take longer for residents to return to this section of the residence hall.
Staff will work today to determine a longer-term solution for where these residents will be staying.
There will be time for residents to gather additional personal belongings and this will be shared once the time is confirmed.
Resources are in place to support students. If you have a need that is not being addressed, please follow up with the JMU Dean of Students Office (540-568-6468) or JMU Office of Residence Life (540-568-4663).
Press release: Fire reported in JMU’s Garber Hall (sent 2/13/25 at 11:30 p.m.)
HARRISONBURG, Va. — Local fire and emergency personnel responded Thursday evening to a reported fire in James Madison University’s Garber Hall, in the Village residence hall area of campus.
There have been no injuries reported, and university officials are working to temporarily relocate affected students. Students are encouraged to contact their families to confirm their safety.
Emergency units received the call at 9:12 p.m. of a fire on a third-floor unit and promptly responded to the scene. Harrisonburg Fire Department crews marked the fire under control at 10:24 p.m.
Law enforcement officials ask the public to avoid the Village area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
