Ashe Smith

Assistant Managing Editor

Humes Residence Hall was evacuated for the second time this week as a fire erupted in the dormitory Tuesday morning.

At 9:57 a.m., a bulletin board on the 3rd floor caught fire but was put out by maintenance staff before the fire department arrived minutes later.

Capt. Brent Seymour, Knoxville Fire Department spokesman, said Monday’s fire is still under investigation, and there is suspicion that the two incidents may be connected.

“(We) are trying to relate the two fires,” Seymour said.

Seymour said there is not a “person of interest” yet, but the State Fire Marshal’s office is conducting interviews with individuals at both fires. “(We) are still on the scene, investigating students and staff and trying to create timelines.”

Due to the two fires, the Fire Marshal’s office is conducting a 24-hour fire watch in Humes, according to a UT press release. The watch will have staff members on alert and officers from the UTPD and the KFD patrolling the halls.

“The Fire Marshal’s office will be there until the end of the week or the end of the investigation,” Seymour said.

No one was hurt in Tuesday’s fire, and those injured in Monday’s fire were released at 5 p.m. Monday.