Spring Break
Hay fire sends Heathman Hall residents outside
Andy Blais
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: News
2/1/08 - A suspicious hay fire last night brought Heathman Hall residents outside and firefighters from two departments to the scene.
Trucks from the Kingston and West Kingston Fire departments responded within minutes of University of Rhode Island Campus Police receiving a report of a fire at 11:02 p.m. and extinguished the fire using water from fire hoses.
The fire started on the southeast outside corner of the building, between Heathman Hall and the electrical substation. Kingston firefighters initially thought that the building was on fire, and called West Kingston's specials hazards truck to complement their two pumper trucks, one ladder trunk and a heavy rescue truck.
Kingston Fire Chief Nate Barrington said that the fire appeared suspicious.
"Hay can spontaneously combust, but I sense that's not it, it is really cold," Barrington said, referencing the 37-degrees temperature.
The hay appeared to be the same hay used for construction along Heathman Road more than 100 feet away from where the fire started.
Although there was an electrical substation within 50 feet of the fire, Barrington said that his department focused more on the residence hall. "I'm more worried about the people inside," Barrington said after the fire.
Because the university is on state property, the incident has been forwarded to the State Fire Marshal for possible investigation.
Trucks from the Kingston and West Kingston Fire departments responded within minutes of University of Rhode Island Campus Police receiving a report of a fire at 11:02 p.m. and extinguished the fire using water from fire hoses.
The fire started on the southeast outside corner of the building, between Heathman Hall and the electrical substation. Kingston firefighters initially thought that the building was on fire, and called West Kingston's specials hazards truck to complement their two pumper trucks, one ladder trunk and a heavy rescue truck.
Kingston Fire Chief Nate Barrington said that the fire appeared suspicious.
"Hay can spontaneously combust, but I sense that's not it, it is really cold," Barrington said, referencing the 37-degrees temperature.
The hay appeared to be the same hay used for construction along Heathman Road more than 100 feet away from where the fire started.
Although there was an electrical substation within 50 feet of the fire, Barrington said that his department focused more on the residence hall. "I'm more worried about the people inside," Barrington said after the fire.
Because the university is on state property, the incident has been forwarded to the State Fire Marshal for possible investigation.
