Two small arsons in dorm spark vigilance

UC Riverside officials and campus police are on the lookout for arsonists after students put out two small dorm fires Monday that had been set, officials said.

The incidents come four days after an equipment malfunction in the lounge area of Aberdeen-Iverness residence hall caused a fire that forced the rescue of seven students and evacuation of 840, university officials said. All three fires occurred in the same building.

The first of Monday’s fires occurred about 3:30 a.m. A cardboard box was seen on fire near a trash bin. A student quickly put out the flames with a fire extinguisher. No one was injured. About 400 students were evacuated as a precaution, officials said.

Hours later, a student noticed a piece of paper on the wall on fire about 10 p.m. and put it out with a bottle of water she was carrying. No students were evacuated.