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Suspected arson leads to evacuation of Bursley

While many students choose to go out on weekend nights, hundreds of Bursley Hall residents were forced to "get out" Saturday because of a string of fires in the residence hall.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department reported five separate fires in Bursley Hall around 11:45 p.m. Saturday.

AAFD Battalion Chief James Breslin said none of the fires caused major damage.

"They were nuisance fires but they could have become dangerous," he said.

The blazes were likely caused by arson, Breslin said. "Waste baskets don't catch on fire by themselves," he said.

LSA first-year student John Worsfold helped extinguish one of the fires.

"I was in my room with some friends and we smelled smoke," he said. "The tackboard in the hall was on fire. We got some water and put it out."

Worsfold said that shortly after they extinguished the blaze, the fire alarm sounded and he left the building.

Many Bursley residents said they were outside for about an hour and a half.

Engineering first-year student Suzanne Michalski said a resident adviser let some residents back in the building, but they were quickly re-evacuated moments later.

School of Education senior Sean Murray, an RA at Bursley Hall, said there was some confusion when students tried to re-enter the building.

"Some students were told they could get back in through the east side of Bursley," he said.

Murray said fire officials at the entrance told the group they could not enter.

"Officers showed up and said we had to get back out of the building," Michalski said.

"We finally got back in the building around 1:45," she said.

Breslin said the AAFD evacuates buildings for the safety of the inhabitants.

"The reason we run people out the building is for their safety," he said. Breslin said that although he was not at the scene, the residents were probably not let back into the building until the site was secured and properly ventilated.

Engineering first-year student Jenny Mittelstadt said many residents went to the Pierpont Commons until they were allowed to return to the residence hall. She and her friends waited on a University bus.

"We got on the bus and rode around to kill time," she said. "We rode the entire route."

AAFD officials said the fires are under investigation.