The Plymouth State University Police Department has been investigating the recent rash of fires that have struck Grafton Residence Hall.
Three fires have forced the evacuation of the residence hall since Oct. 29. Two subsequent fires occurred on Nov. 18 and Nov. 23.
The Plymouth Fire Department, The University Police Department, Investigators from the state Fire Marshal’s office and various members of PSU administration were supposed to meet on Mon. Nov. 24, but the meeting was postponed until Dec. 5.
“The University had an internal meeting [last week],” Plymouth Fire Chief Casino Clogston said, “There was speculation that they would meet earlier [last week] but there was no time,” Clogston said.
At this point, the fire department has vowed to help the University Police Department and the University in stopping the fires, and alerting students as to what to do during a fire emergency.
An alarming trend that has happened during these fires has been the number of students who have not been evacuated during emergency situations.
It is unknown if students are choosing not to evacuate, or if they are not hearing the alarm inside dorm rooms. Regardless of the reason, it is seen as an issue to the administration.
“One student not evacuating is one too many,” Chris Williams, Director of the Office of Public Relations said. After an alarm sounds in a campus building it is normal protocol for police officers or fire personal to patrol the halls and make sure students left the building. Upon recent post-evacuation explorations, officials have discovered a handful of students still in the residence hall.
“300 students live in Grafton,” Williams, said. On Nov. 18, nineteen students did not leave when the alarm sounded. On Nov. 23, the number fell to five students who did not evacuate.
Currently, PSU is interviewing students who did not evacuate on a case-by-case basis, trying to figure out why they did not leave. From that point, these students may be referred to the school’s judicial office.
The shear number of fires in Grafton raised concerns for University Officials, “One fire is one too many,” Williams said. Last year, only one fire was reported on campus. That fire was trash can fire and occurred in Smith Hall during the first semester. This fire was ruled as accidental, and no additional fires were reported following that initial one.
The fires are being investigated as being related, but officials are not ruling out all possible actions, including original speculation that the Nov. 18 fire was started by a scorched container of soup.
Fearing that the fires may be intentionally set, a reward has been offered for any students with information regarding possible arson activity, “The reward was initiated by Vice President Dick Hage,” Williams said. It was a move to solicit information regarding the fires. A reward up to five thousand dollars is being offered. Postings explaining the reward can be seen around campus buildings.
“The reward was set high enough to encourage a willingness on the part of individuals with reliable information to report it, hopefully leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator,” Hage wrote in an email.
Special concern has been added to the events because of the threat fire posses to all surrounded, “We are dealing with intolerable behavior that threatens the lives of students,” Hage added, “You can’t put a dollar value on a life, but this is an attempt to pool significant dollar resources to stop this insanity.”
In the meantime, extra precautions have been made to curb any suspicious activity in Grafton, “As far as I know, the University Police Department have been making floor by floor and hour by hour rounds on a regular basis,” Williams said. These rounds will continue while there is still concern about fires.
It is unclear whether or not Grafton staff have been required to make extra rounds of the buildings in response to the fires. Eric Thorson, the Grafton Residence Director was unable to be reached for comment.
As of now, The University Police Department has been conducting interviews with students who may have information regarding the fires. Since it is still considered an ongoing investigation, the University Police Department could not comment on whether or not there have been any leads in the case or whether there are any individuals of interest, stating only, “The investigation into all three fires at Grafton is continuing, and it would be inappropriate to speculate when any arrests might be made or responsible persons identified at this stage,” PSU Police Department Colonel Creig Doyle wrote in an email.
Currently, the fires are being investigated as being related, due to the fact that there is no information proving otherwise, “I believe the fires are being viewed as potentially related,” Hage added, “they are being viewed as arson until and if proven otherwise.”
“If/when suspects are clearly identified, we will arrest them for felony arson,” Colonel Doyle wrote.
Vice President Hage could not comment on the investigation either, citing that all tips are sent over to the University Police Department.
If suspects are apprehended, it is unclear whether they will be suspended immediately, as they will be referred to the University’s judicial program for further charges.