Student causes severe dorm fire at Northwestern Michigan College

Michael Sheffer of Royal Oak, was arraigned yesterday in District Court on a charge of arson of a dwelling house, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

He was jailed on $50,000 bond and requested a court-appointed lawyer for his preliminary hearing, scheduled for April 21.

Sheffer told investigators he lit a piece of paper in the lounge area of East Hall, then left for a late-night walk with friends, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Dennis LaBelle said.

"He claims that someone dared him to light the paper ... horsing around, according to him," LaBelle said.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Matthew Wooten remained in critical but stable condition at Blodgett Hospital Regional Burn Center in Grand Rapids, hospital spokesman Bruce Rossman said.

Wooten's face, hands and back were burned in the fire, which broke out about 2:30 a.m. Monday in the lounge area of the residence hall.

The other injured students were treated for smoke inhalation, said Kathleen Guy, spokesperson for the 3,800-student community college.

LaBelle said Sheffer, a first-year student, had been partying with friends before igniting the paper.

Sheffer claims he laid the burning paper on a table, but another student found it on a couch and "thought she had extinguished it," LaBelle said.

The flames and smoke apparently spread quickly, tripping several alarms.

Some residents told the Traverse City Record-Eagle they didn't take the alarms seriously at first because pranksters sometimes set them off.

Wooten was in his room at the time. Trying to find his way out through the heavy smoke, he ended up in a hallway leading to the lounge and "literally walked into the fire," LaBelle said.

Wooten then cut himself trying to break a window.

He was pulled to safety by Selena Somers, a resident assistant who heard his screams, Guy said.

East Hall, opened in 1967, consists of two wings, each with 60 rooms. Officials planned to reopen one wing this week.

04-15-98