Syracuse Fire Department investigators suspect that a student used acetone to start a fire in the drawing laboratory on the fourth floor of Slocum Hall Monday night, District Fire Chief Mark McLees said.

No injuries were reported and the building sustained no structural damage, McLees said. Firefighters received the call, about the fire, at 7:47 p.m.

Witnesses told investigators that they saw an individual pour acetone on the floor and light it on fire. Another person in the classroom put out the fire with the extinguisher, McLees said. Firefighters found no evidence of how long the fire lasted.

‘Our arson investigators and the Department of Public Safety are looking into it,’ McLees said. ‘They will get a class roster, and interview the students and eye witnesses.’

The investigators will treat the case as suspected arson, McLees said.

Syracuse University Department of Public Safety Lt. Edward Weber declined to provide any details on the case and said the investigation will continue.

Acetone is a flammable chemical solvent used in household products, such as nail polish remover and paint thinner.

smtracey@syr.edu

Published on October 5, 2009 at 12:00 pm