Syracuse University sophomore Alec Hembree was charged with arson in the fourth degree around 9:30 p.m. Monday after causing an acetone fire in Room 414 of Slocum Hall, said Lt. Ken Heffernan, a Syracuse fire investigator.

Hembree, an architecture major, soaked a paper towel with acetone, which was being used in the architecture studio to transfer photographs to paper, Heffernan said. Some of the acetone on the paper towel dripped onto the floor, he said.

When Hembree was lighting the acetone fumes with a lighter, the chemical on the floor also ignited. The can of acetone being used in the lab tipped over and also caught fire.

Another student in the lab put out the flame with a fire extinguisher.

The fire was unintentional, Hembree said Tuesday. He declined to comment any further about the incident.

‘The suspect was more or less testing the flammability of the acetone,’ Heffernan said.

Hembree was released late Monday night with an appearance ticket, Heffernan said. His court date is Oct. 15.

‘He will have to go through a criminal procedure and then any judicial procedures that the university has,’ Heffernan said.

Drew Buske, Department of Public Safety deputy chief, said Hembree has an option to talk with a lawyer before setting up a hearing with the university.

‘This is a felony, so it would probably be an administrative hearing,’ Buske said. ‘A faculty member, a staff member and an administrative member would be on the panel.’

smtracey@syr.edu

Published on October 6, 2009 at 12:00 pm