A series of fires at Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, which forced over 20 students out of their accommodations, is being investigated as possible arson. The incident, which occurred early on a Sunday morning, led to the evacuation of an apartment building on the university campus. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, two small fires started on the third floor of the Agave Apartments, leaving some students to be temporarily relocated to other rooms on campus due to fire and water damage.
Following the outbreak of the fire, the Phoenix Fire Department, supported by the GCU Public Safety, responded and controlled the situation. The university's spokesperson, Bob Romantic, mentioned that although the fire was quickly extinguished, water damage as a result of the active sprinklers necessitated the relocation of about 24 students. Romantic detailed to FOX 10 Phoenix the extent of the damage, stating that "It looks like 6 suites sustained water damage as a result of the fire. Each suite contains 4 bedrooms."
GCU students experienced a rude awakening by the fire alarms, with hallways rapidly filling with smoke. "I was sleeping, like dead asleep. I wake up, and they’re scrambling for their stuff and there were so many alarms," student Chloe Bradley told FOX 10 Phoenix. The fire sprinklers, which were activated during the fire, resulted in significant water trickling down to the lower floors, as observed by student Jacob Delandro in his remarks to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Police are conducting ongoing investigations into the cause of the fires, with the precinct indicating that the evidence suggests arson could be involved. A frequent occurrence of fire alarms on the campus had many students, such as Elias Murrell, thinking it was another false trigger. "I thought it was going to be a normal day like someone didn’t know how to cook," Logan Martinez shared his initial reaction with Arizona's Family. In the face of midterms and project deadlines, the displaced students are dealing with additional stress, with Martinez being given a $3 laundry voucher by the university to manage his immediate necessities.
Grand Canyon University, in the wake of the incident, emailed students about the fire, suggesting arson as the potential cause and indicating that the suspects remain unknown. GCU's actions during the emergency were taken positively by some students, who appreciated the transparency and communication. The Phoenix Police Department has relayed that the Phoenix Fire Department’s Arson Investigators Taskforce has taken over the investigation, working alongside the GCU Police and administrators to determine the cause of the fires. As of now, no arrests have been reported related to the incident.
