Fire breaks out in dorm room at New Residential College

A fire broke out at College Residence Hall on Sunday night, leading to an evacuation of approximately 60 students by the USC Department of Public Safety.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire took place in a room on the third floor of the residence hall, part of New Residential College, and was deemed “accidental” and caused by “carelessness with candles.” No injuries were reported, and after the fire was extinguished students were allowed to reenter the residence hall around 12:30 a.m., except for five students who were described by LAFD as being “temporarily displaced” by the fire. According to Annenberg TV News, the five displaced students have been offered a room at the USC Radisson Hotel.

The LAFD reported $1,000 in damages to contents and $1,500 in structural damages. Students were informed of the fire through a campus-wide Trojan Alert that was sent out by DPS at 11:32 p.m. Another alert, saying that the issue had been resolved, was sent at 12:49 a.m.