By Khalida Sarwari and Dan McMenamin
Students at San Jose State University have returned to a high-rise residence hall that was evacuated this morning due to two small fires that appear to be suspicious, according to a university police sergeant.
The first fire was reported at about 9 a.m. on the seventh floor of Joe West Hall, home to about 500 students. A student had noticed a fire burning in a trash can and tried to extinguish it, university spokeswoman Pat Lopes Harris said.
He suffered a cut to his elbow while removing a fire extinguisher from its case, San Jose fire Capt. Scott Kouns said.
The fire was controlled at about 9:40 a.m.
While fire crews were responding to that blaze, they spotted another small fire on the fifth floor of the building, Kouns said.
University police Sgt. John Laws said trash was burning in a bin in the common area. The fire was extinguished by 9:55 a.m.
Students were allowed to return after authorities completed their investigation and reset the fire alarms.
San Jose State University police are investigating the fires, and Cal Fire has also been notified of the incident since it occurred on California State University property. Law said both fires appear to be suspicious.
Anyone with information on the fires is asked to contact university police at (408) 924-2222. To make an anonymous report, call (408) 924-2236.
Joe West Hall was briefly evacuated on Nov. 3 after a housekeeper smelled smoke and pulled a fire alarm. The smoke was traced to a burning piece of paper.