By Darren Dunlap
The Knoxville News-Sentinel

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Authorities investigating arson at a University of Tennessee dormitory called for a 24-hour fire watch at the building on Tuesday.

The state Fire Marshal's Offi ce mandated the watch in Humes Hall after two fires, on Monday and Tuesday.

"Although both fires were quickly extinguished, we must do whatever (is) necessary to eliminate the dangerous activities of this individual or individuals," Kenneth Stoner, executive director of University Housing, stated in an e-mail to Humes Hall residents.

Humes Hall houses 518 women. Students met Tuesday with UT administrators and the UT Police Department to discuss concerns.

"Four uniformed offi cers(from the Knoxville fire and UT police departments) have been assigned to Humes Hall until further notice to walk the building and be immediately available to assist in attempting resolve the series of false alarms and the two small fires that have recently occurred in Humes Hall," Stoner stated. "The fi rst fire in the small study room is of undetermined origin at this point, but the bulletin board that was set on fire this morning was definitely an act of arson."

Valencia Edwards, assistant director of University Housing, told residents someone has been tampering with fire alarm pull stations on the third through sixth floors since Jan. 17. In an e-mail to dorm residents, she stated the stations have been tampered with five to 10 times Jan. 23-25.

False reports are a crime.

Tennessee's Bomb and Arson Unit is leading the investigation of the Tuesday morning fire set on the third floor of the building's west wing. No one was reported injured.

Students were evacuated at about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday and allowed back into the building an hour later.

Monday's fire in a fifth-floor study lounge in the west wing resulted in a trip to UT Medical Center for three people: a maintenance worker, a custodial worker and a student resident assistant. UT reported all three were released from the hospital on Monday.

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