CANTON – SUNY Canton President Joseph Kennedy says he is “relieved” that the fire on campus last week was not intentionally set.

According to a statement from the Canton Fire Department, “the investigation has revealed no indication, that the fire was the result of an intentional or criminal act.”

“I’m relieved the investigation has revealed no indication of an intentional or criminal act, and I applaud all of the agencies involved in the investigation.” Kennedy said. “They have worked diligently and thoroughly to get these answers to us as quickly as possible, and we can’t thank them enough.”

The fire in a Cook Hall science lab produced so much smoke that several buildings were evacuated, and some remain closed while officials await the results of tests.

In the meantime, the school canceled classes this week, largely because two of the residence halls were closed, leaving only three others to house all the students, so the students were sent home.

The investigators’ report did not specify how the fire started, but it did say it began in a preparation room off of the laboratory in Cook Hall, and that the source of ignition was not any of the usual ways a fire begins, such as with smoking materials, electricity or electric appliances.

They said the pattern left by the fire was “consistent with a fire that originates from a chemical reaction,” and that the chemicals stored in the lab can increase a fire’s intensity.

The report said that there was no explosion, nor was there anyone there when the fire broke out.

“We are all still anxious for the College to return to normalcy,” Kennedy said. “Currently, we are still awaiting lab results to determine how quickly we will be allowed to re-open the buildings surrounding Cook Hall. We continue to follow the Office of Emergency Management, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Department of Health, the Office of General Services, the State University of New York, and the many other agencies that provided experts for the situation. In the mean time, we’ve begun to tentatively schedule some classes in alternate venues with hopes of minimally interrupting the Spring 2012 Semester.”

The Canton Fire Department press release follows:

Canton Fire Department Press Release for Chief Michael Dalton

LOCATION: SUNY CANTON‐COOK HALL 34 Cornell Drive Canton NY 13617

INCIDENT DATE: FEBRUARY 10 2012

Over the past four days the following agencies participated in a comprehensive investigation into the origin and cause of the fire on campus in Cook Hall late Friday morning.

St. Lawrence County Bureau of Fire Investigation

SUNY Canton Police Department

NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control

The origin of the fire was determined to be in a Chemistry Prep/Storage room, located on the north end, second floor of Cook Hall. This area was used in the preparation of chemistry laboratory student activities of various College programs.

Through the course of a thorough investigation, investigators were able to determine the following:

• Preliminary reports of an explosion and the presence of individuals in the room at the time of the incident were determined to be unfounded.

• Use of smoking materials, utilities, including electricity, heating, air conditioning, and electric appliances in the room of origin were eliminated as sources of ignition.

• The fire spread rapidly from the incipient stage to free burning stage which is consistent with a fire which originates from a chemical reaction.

• Chemicals and substances stored in this area are known to increase fire intensity.

• At this time the investigation has revealed no indication, that the fire was the result of an intentional or criminal act.

Due to the scope and magnitude of the incident and the presence of hazardous materials on the scene the following agencies provided assistance and support;

10 Fire Departments from St. Lawrence County assisted Village of Canton Fire Department

St. Lawrence County Hazardous Materials

Village of Canton Police Department

Village of Potsdam Police Department

David E. Sullivan Police Academy

NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services ‐ Office of Emergency Management

NYS Department of Health

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Police Aviation Unit

NYS Department of Labor

St. Lawrence County Office of Emergency Management