Police look for suspects in 3 fire incidents

The IU Police Department is investigating three similar fire-related incidents that occurred within three days.

The first fire happened at 11:10 p.m. March 26 in the Tulip Tree University Apartments. Residents discovered a roll of toilet paper on fire in the stairwell between the fifth and sixth floors, according to an IUPD press release.

The Bloomington Fire Department extinguished the fire. It left burn marks on the vinyl floors with estimated damage costs of $100.

The second fire occurred at 7:27 p.m. March 27 in the Forest Quad in the sixth floor stairwell, according to the press release. IUPD officers discovered the fire started with a roll of toilet paper. The estimated damage to the vinyl floor was $100.

The third fire was at 11:16 p.m. March 28 in the Tulip Tree University Apartments on the stairwell between the second and third floors, according to the press release. The fire appeared to be started by a roll of toilet paper or paper towels.

IUPD has handled fire cases in the past, but this is the first time there have been three fires with similar situations in three consecutive days, IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said.
The biggest danger the residents face is evacuating the building and avoiding the smoke, Minger said.

Freshman Montana Roberts, who lives on the fifth floor of the B building of Forest Quad, was watching a movie when the fire alarm rang, but she thought it was a drill.
“I thought it was kind of weird because they don’t normally do it on the weekends,” Roberts said.

Roberts went outside and soon realized it wasn’t a drill when she saw firefighters entering the building. She said she was concerned about losing her personal belongs.
Freshman Artesya Moore also lives in the B building of Forest Quad but was walking back from Read Center when the fire occurred.

The fire caught Moore off guard because although the fire alarm has gone off before, it had always a been a drill.

“I was so surprised,” she said. “I’m just glad no one got hurt.”

IUPD officers living in residence halls will have meetings with residents and resident assistants to explain the dangers of these fires. Every residence hall except for Collins Center has a student officer living in them, Minger said.

“There’s always greater concern because this person needs to be stopped,” Minger said.

Officers are investigating all suspect possibilities but don’t have any suspects or witnesses at this time.

“It seems a little more disturbing than someone who made one bad decision,” Minger said.

Anyone who has any information about any of the incidents is asked to contact IUPD at 855-4111.