October 29, 2004

Purdue investigating residence hall trash fires

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue officials are looking for information about trash fires that appear to have been intentionally set in Owen Residence Hall restrooms over the past month.

Half of the 708 Owen Hall students were evacuated at 4:42 a.m. today (Friday, Oct. 29) after a student discovered a fire in the northeast fourth-floor restroom and alerted his resident assistant, said Ernest Poland, executive director of University Residences. Purdue firefighters extinguished the fire found in two trash receptacles in separate areas of the restroom by 5 a.m. No injuries were reported.

Residence hall staff are already at work, repairing the damage to lighting fixtures, paint and doors, Poland said.

Another trash fire was reported in Owen Hall about 11:15 p.m. on Oct. 15. This fire occurred in the northeast third-floor restroom. The fire was limited to the trash receptacle and damage was minimal, Poland said.

Anyone with information on the fires should contact the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221. Purdue staff from Purdue's Office of Environmental Health and Public Safety are investigating the incidents.

Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371, jmwillis@purdue.edu

Source: Ernest Poland, (765) 494-1000, efpoland@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page