An electrical malfunction caused the Tuesday morning fire in a fourth-floor room of Owen Hall, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said Wednesday.
The room’s occupant, a female student, was in her bed when a power strip beneath her began to smoke, McGlothian-Taylor said. Police said the power strip was not overloaded, but had malfunctioned. The student threw a cup of water under the bed, but the police report stated that the student was not responsible for the fire.
The fire led to the evacuation of 200-300 people Tuesday. Members of the East Lansing Fire Department responded to the fire after receiving a call from the student.
The fire was contained to one room but broke through the room’s window leaving soot on the outside windowsill, McGlothian-Taylor said.
Police estimate the fire caused between $10,000 and $15,000 in damage.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
