State Fire Marshal Offers $5,000 Reward for Information About URI Dorm Fires

KINGSTOWN, RI — Hillside Hall, a freshman dormitory at the University of Rhode Island, became the scene of an arson investigation this weekend.

No one was hurt, according to the URI police. The dorm has about 800 beds

Several small fires, which appear to have been set deliberately, broke out between Saturday night and Sunday morning, the police said. The URI police and the State Fire Marshal are investigating, and the fire marshal's office, which has posted a $5,000 reward for information, is asking people to call 401-383-7723.

The URI police are also asking for information on their confidential hotline at 401-874-TIPS.

"The incidents involved burning toilet paper or paper towels and a trash can in several men’s bathrooms," according to the press release. "The first occurred at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, when residents smelled smoke on the fifth floor and then notified resident assistants."

At that point, a burning roll of toilet paper was found in a men’s room stall. That fire was put out by the resident assistants, but the campus police advised them to sound the fire alarm and the building was evacuated.

The Kingstown Fire Department responded, as well. Later, the students returned to the building; but while authorities were still investigating the first fire, a second fire broke out around midnight in the same fifth-floor bathroom. This time, the fire was in a waste basket under the paper towel dispenser.

The sprinklers went off, and the building was evacuated again. Four rooms were damaged, and those students had to be relocated by the Housing Office.

"Residents are advised to be vigilant and to report any immediate threat or suspicious activities to URI police at 401-874-2121," police said.