Fire sprinklers were credited Sunday night with subduing a fire on the second floor of Hampton, one of the University Court buildings.

Assistant Fire Chief Pat Goodwin, of the Charleston Fire Department, said firefighters were dispatched to a grease fire around 7:45 p.m.

The fire started on the stove and damaged the stove, range hood and some of the kitchen cabinets, along with smoke damage to the apartment, he said.

Goodwin said the sprinklers in the building subdued the fire before firefighters arrived on the scene.

No injuries were reported.

Kelly Miller, assistant director of housing and dining services, said the residents were being moved for the night to an extra apartment within University Court.

Miller said the appliances and electrical wiring need inspection before the residents can move back in the apartment.

She remembers three other times when sprinklers in the buildings were previously activated. Sprinklers prevented damage and possibly saved lives each time, she added.

University Court buildings were some of the first buildings where fire sprinklers were added on campus, she said.

All on-campus housing in Illinois is required to have sprinklers installed by Jan. 1, 2013.

Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7942 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.