Xavier Hall takes action after another fire

Last Thursday night there was another fire in Xavier Hall. A pile of clothes was set on fire, prompting officials to call the blaze suspicious. Due to these incidents, there will no longer be overnight guests until the end of the semester and other actions are still being discussed. An investigation is being conducted.

by Benjamin Lunn assistant news editor

The fourth in a string of suspicious fires in Xavier Han was ignited sometime between 11:28 p.m. and 11:35 p.m. on Thursday, according to Public Safety.

As of yet, no suspects have been named.

Just after 11:30 p.m., resident assistant Neel Daphtary found a pile of laundry on fire in the Upper South laundry room.

The pile of unwashed clothes was sitting on a wooden shelf that was anchored into the wall just inside the doorway.

When the alarm went off, the public safety officer on duty in Xavier, Richard Scattergood, checked the enunciator panel to find the disturbance, and ran down the hallway towards the incident.

When he arrived at the scene, RAs Nick Luchko and Daphtary were already at the scene.

Immediately, Luchko handed a dry-chemical fire extinguisher to Scattergood.

As the extinguisher smoke mixed with the smoke of ashes that remained and billowed out into the hallway, backup was called.

Along with other public safety officers, Radnor's police and fire departments also were called.

When Fire Department Deputy Chief Kelly arrived at the scene, the situation was already well in control.-

"Everyone was out and the area was isolated. Everything was honky-dory," Kelly said. He ventilated the area and then investigated the fire. He found

"suspicious."

The common feeling is that this is not an isolated incident.

There has been an ongoing investigation into the cause of the fues since the second incident on Nov. 24. 1998.

Other fires have cropped up throughout the school year, most recently resulting in a new "no smoking" policy in the dorm.

Chief Kelly, deputy, Radnor Fire Department that there was no discernible natural cause for its origin. This, in conjunction with the events of previous weeks, gave cause for Kelly to deem the fire

Public Safety believes that this fire was intentionally set, and assures that they are still conducting the ongoing investigation into the possible arson.

There are a few leads, and some evidence was found.

Public safety officer Chris Feder believes that, "If any evidence will lead us to the arsonist, this will."

When asked about this latest fire, Scattergood said in all modesty, "It is our department's duty to protect the students. If that calls for putting out a fue, then that's what I'll do."

He feels that it is only in the students' best interests to stop the arson.

As of Tuesday, overnight guests have been done away with until the end of the semester.

That policy has been enacted by John Osborne and can change if the arsonist is found.

Feder is sorry that it had to come to this.

However, he is hopeful that this will work out in the end. Anyone with any infonnation is strongly encouraged to speak with public safety, Osborne or any RA.