A fire broke out on the eighth floor of Dickey Tower early in the morning of Friday, Nov. 7. The USM police and Gorham Fire Department have determined arson was the probable cause. The exact cause of the fire is confidential because the investigation is in progress.
The fire originated in the button display panel of the Dickey Tower elevator at approximately 1:30 a.m. A number of residents were alarmed by the smoke and left their rooms. The fire was spreading up the wall panel when resident Mike Cicio put it out using one of the two fire extinguishers on that floor. He then pulled the fire alarm and proceeded to evacuate with the rest of the residents. No one was hurt.
Joel Schneider, resident director of Dickey/Wood hall, informed residents that the fire caused at least $4,000 worth of damage, and further expenses are expected. If investigators determine arson was the cause, it is likely the residents will have to pay for the repairs. No one will be billed until the investigation has concluded. Craig Ouellette, the first floor Resident Adviser in Dickey Tower, described the panel as burnt and blackened and the connecting wires and lights as melted and fused together. Black scorch marks go more than a foot up the surrounding panel. Eighth floor residents said that USM Detective Ronald Saindon has conducted several interviews with eighth floor residents in search of the culprit. Saindon could not be reached for comment.
Elevator vandalism has been a recurrent problem at Dickey/Wood. Schneider reported two incidents in which the elevator doors were kicked off their tracks. Autumn Wentworth, a Dickey/Wood resident described an incident in which the button display panel was opened and ramen noodles were dumped into it. Wentworth said there have been frequent incidents involving urination. Burn marks from cigarette lighters mark the walls. Unlike the previous incidents, the fire caused considerable damage. The Gorham Fire Department proposed that only the eighth floor be billed. “There is no way I’m paying for that,” said Alyssa Sweet, an eighth floor resident of Dickey/Wood.
Dickey/Wood held fire safety meetings throughout Oct. and Nov. Each floor currently has two fire extinguishers with 10 seconds worth of pressure. “Basically, they suck,” said Mike Cicio, an undeclared sophomore, about the fire prevention measures in Dickey/Wood. Cicio said that he would have been unable to contain the fire had it been larger. Dickey/Wood towers and Anderson Hall are the only dormitories which do not have sprinkler systems. David Early, USM’s director of facilities management, is expecting to have sprinklers installed in Dickey/Wood next fall or winter.
Wentworth is positive that none of the eighth floor residents are responsible for the fire. “Even if someone was drinking or drunk, they wouldn’t be stupid enough to do that,” said Wentworth. Wentworth suspects three “sketchy” individuals she met in the eighth floor hallway earlier that evening. “I can’t remember their names, but I know they were from Windham,” said Wentworth. Caitlin McCarthy, an undeclared freshman and Wentworth’s roommate, saw two of the individuals holding the door of the elevator open and kicking it.
Sam Geer can be contacted at [email protected]