YDN Staff Reporter

Two freshmen playing with fire caused a blaze on Farnam Hall's third floor at about 1:50 Wednesday morning, after the flames got out of control, students said last night.

The freshmen laughed and took pictures in their entryway C common room as they lit the furniture on fire, but the joke went too far when the couch shot up in flames and the students found nearby fire extinguishers ineffective, Farnam residents close to the suspects said.

"They told me they set the couch on fire and they were laughing at it and taking pictures," said a student who asked not to be identified.

Realizing the fire was too big to control, the freshmen tried to smother the flames with a beanbag, causing a spark to light one of their shoes on fire, students said.

"Then, somehow, the flames had gotten inside the couch and it was out of control," the student said.

The alleged perpetrators declined to comment last night.

Farnam residents, who were forced to evacuate their dormitory around 2 a.m. because of the blaze, said they expect police will discipline the freshmen harshly.

"All I know is they told me the [Yale] fire marshal has the camera with the pictures of them playing around with the couch and the fire," the student said.

New Haven Fire Department firefighters arrived to suppress the conflagration, but Yale will handle the investigation, officials said.

"We were not called in to investigate it. The department was called to suppress the fire, but the Yale fire marshal and Yale police are investigating it," NHFD Arson Squad Captain Alan Wright said last night.

Yale University Fire Marshal Michael Johns could not be reached for comment last night.

"They all confessed. Now it's not a matter of if they'll take action, it's just a matter of how severe the action is going to be," said another student who asked not to be identified.

Dean of Student Affairs Betty Trachtenberg could not be reached for comment last night.

Sources living below the scene of the fire said at least one of the freshmen allegedly responsible was under the influence of alcohol.

"I'm sure that [one] was drunk, and that he's the one who lit the couch on fire," said Josh Spinak '98, who lives directly below the fire scene in room 11 of entryway C.

The entire ceiling of Spinak's common room sunk under water pressure from the fire sprinklers. Physical plant workers had to remove the sheetrock from the ceiling to make sure it would not fall on the suite's inhabitants, students said.

Students said they hoped the two would be punished for their actions.

"They could have injured somebody," Spinak said. "I think they should either be expelled or be forced to take a leave of absence, because I really don't want to live close to them in sophomore housing."

Students said the two have a history of causing trouble in their suite.

"They've just done a lot of things all year, and I think they should be punished because they put a lot of us in danger," said another student who asked not to be identified. "They got carried away this time."

Copyright 1995 The Yale Daily News