October 15, 2001

WKU Police Investigating
Fire Incidents At Barnes-Campbell

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University Police are investigating two incidents in which paper towels were burned on a stove in a residence hall.

On Oct. 9 and Oct. 10, burnt paper towels were discovered in the seventh floor kitchen by a building services attendant. There was no damage reported and the fire was not large enough to trigger the alarm or extinguishing systems. The attendant said he was told WKU Police had already been called and cleaned the residue from the kitchen.

"While we found out about these incidents after the evidence had been removed, we are still treating them as attempted arsons," said WKU Police Chief Bob Deane. "This is a potentially dangerous situation and we are giving it the serious attention it deserves."

Deane said the State Fire Marshal's Office has been notified.

Gene Tice, vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Services, said meetings will be scheduled with the housekeeping and maintenance staffs to make them aware of the situation.

"We want them to understand what to do when they encounter situations like this," Dr. Tice said. "It is important that they immediately inform the proper authorities and preserve any evidence. We want to take every step we can to insure the safety of our students, faculty and staff, and to successfully prosecute whoever is responsible for these incidents."

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