COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio State University has temporarily suspended a fraternity after a social media video appeared to show two men engulfed in flames and rolling on the ground while others tried to help.

The university said Sigma Alpha Epsilon was placed on interim suspension while officials investigate what happened. The incident is also being reviewed by Columbus police, and university officials said the people involved are receiving medical care.

The footage shows one person with sweatpants on fire before he lunges at a second man and tackles him. The second man’s clothing also catches fire, and both men appear to remove their clothes as bystanders move in to intervene.

University says the fraternity is under interim suspension

Ohio State said it moved quickly after learning about the video, which spread online and drew attention from campus and city officials. The school said it expects students and student organizations to uphold its standards for safety and healthy conduct.

University spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said the matter has been referred to both the university and Columbus police. In a statement, he described the incident as extremely concerning and said the institution is focused on the welfare of the individuals involved.

The suspension is temporary, but it signals that the fraternity will remain restricted while investigators sort out what happened and whether any rules were broken. Ohio State did not say how many people were present when the incident occurred.

Police learned of the video after it began circulating online

Columbus police Sgt. Joe Albert said the incident appears to have taken place on Saturday. He said police did not get any calls for service to the location at the time, which means officers were not dispatched while the situation was unfolding.

Instead, police were alerted Sunday evening after someone reported that the video was being shared online. That report prompted police attention to the incident, even though no emergency call had come in from the scene itself.

Albert did not identify the location or provide details about how the fire started. He said police were aware of the footage and were looking into it in coordination with university officials.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon says it is investigating and will hold people accountable

The national organization behind Sigma Alpha Epsilon also said it is taking the matter seriously. CEO Steve Mitchell said conduct that falls short of the fraternity’s standards has no place in the group.

Mitchell said the fraternity is actively investigating the circumstances and working with Ohio State and local law enforcement. He said appropriate action will be taken against anyone found responsible once the facts are established.

His statement did not discuss the injuries in detail, but it made clear that the national fraternity sees the incident as serious enough to warrant close review and possible discipline.

Video shows a chaotic scene as bystanders move in to help

The circulating video is central to the investigation because it is the main public record of what happened. In the footage, the first man is seen with burning clothing before he collides with a second man, who also catches fire.

Both men then appear to roll on the ground as they strip off clothing, trying to extinguish the flames. Several people nearby rush toward them, suggesting the moment was witnessed by multiple onlookers.

The scene is abrupt and alarming, but officials have not yet released a public explanation for why either man was ignited or whether the fire was accidental.

A major campus now faces questions about safety and oversight

Ohio State’s Columbus campus enrolls more than 62,000 students, making fraternity oversight and student safety a major concern whenever a serious incident surfaces. The university said it is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for students and organizations.

The case now sits at the intersection of campus discipline and police review, with both Ohio State and Columbus authorities involved. That means the next steps will likely depend on what investigators learn from witnesses, the video and any medical information tied to the incident.

For now, the fraternity remains suspended while the inquiry continues. The university has not said how long the interim action will last or whether additional campus sanctions are possible.