Fire in USM dorm was arson, officials say
Posted Sept. 03, 2012, at 10:12 a.m.
GORHAM, Maine — Officials say an early morning fire in a dormitory at the University of Southern Maine Gorham was deliberately set.
The fire in a recycling closet in Upton-Hastings Hall was reported at 2:37 a.m. Monday when a sprinkler system went off inside the closet.
Staff evacuated 200 students from the hall.
WMTW-TV reports the students were allowed back into the dorm at 5 a.m.
College spokesman Bob Caswell says there was no fire or smoke damage outside the closet and all rooms are inhabitable.
