A fraternity house in Gorham faces being shut down because of a fire code violation and the university supports fire department action.

“The town has taken action to close the Delta Chi fraternity house,” University of Southern Maine spokesman Bob Caswell said Tuesday. “We support the town 100 percent. Students are living there, and their safety is of the highest priority.”

The frat house, 23 Preble St., is one of three in Gorham. It isn’t owned or operated by the university, Caswell said. There are four fraternities and three sororities in Gorham.

Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre said Tuesday the fire alarm system at the fraternity house needed to be monitored, according to local and state code, by an agency that would notify the fire department when the alarm was tripped. Lefebvre called it a life-threatening code violation.

Lefebvre feared kids at a party would go to sleep after drinking and might not wake up when an alarm sounded. Lefebvre is seeking a court hearing. “It’s been turned over to the town attorney,” Lefebvre said about the case. “In order to close it, we have to have a court order.”

After an inspection on Aug. 6, the fraternity was initially given a week to remedy the violation, Lefebvre said, and then more grace time, but he said Tuesday it has now been more than 30 days.

Martin Macisso, president of the alumni Delta Chi board of trustees, said the fraternity wanted to comply with the law but wants to see it. Macisso said there’s no such town ordinance requiring the monitoring agency, which he said would cost $2,000 a year. “The situation from our perspective is we’re looking for due process,” Macisso said. “They’re playing hardball.”

For a story on the return of thousands of students to the University of Southern Maine and how it’s affecting the economy and police department in Gorham, pick up this week’s American Journal.