PULLMAN, Wash. -- Three arsons in a week at Washington State University have residents on edge and Pullman authorities looking for a culprit.
The latest fire was reported early Tuesday, just after midnight in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s McCoy Hall. The fire alarm went off after someone broke a window and tried to set fire to the building.
Inside, firefighters and police officers reportedly found several points of ignition that the suspect used to start several fires.
The fire was contained by sprinklers, and most of the loss appears to be water damage.
It is the third suspicious fire on campus in one week. An arson on Saturday burned a two-story community building at the Chief Joseph apartment complex and an arson last Tuesday that burned a community building at the Nez Perce apartment complex. Both are university housing.
Firefighters are asking residents to be aware, make things secure and report anything unusual.
Investigators at the McCoy Hall incident said building is equipped with cameras and WSU Police planned to go through footage looking for any leads in the case. The Spokane Police Department also brought down a tracking dog for the search but crews had no luck in locating a suspect.
Authorities said evidence from the Chief Joe apartments was sent to the Washington State Crime Lab.
