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A burning trashcan outside International House prompted the evacuation of residents late Saturday afternoon.
Seven D.C. fire trucks arrived on Virginia Avenue between 22nd and 23rd streets and quickly put out the blaze, which burned in the loading dock. Foggy Bottom's own Engine 23 was the first to respond and extinguish the flames, said Battalion Chief Kevin Byrne.
Byrne said he suspected the fire was intentionally set and he dispatched a fire investigator to the residence hall. Arson is not common on campus, Byrne said noting that it is too soon to determine the cause. Byrne added that there was no fire damage to the building. At least 10 University Police Department officers rushed to the scene and directed residents away from the building. Many students took photographs of the smoke billowing out of the underclass residence hall.
- David Ceasar, Tim Gowa and Alex Ellis contributed to this report.
