A candle may have caused the fire in a Hastings Hall dorm room last week and action against the two students who lived there remains uncertain, a University Police Services staff member said.

University Fire Prevention Engineer Tom Hand said preliminary investigations suggest the fire one week ago in 423 Hastings was caused by a candle burning in the room. He said neither resident had mentioned a candle to police in regard to the investigation.

University housing contracts forbid candles in dorm rooms, Hand said, though he could not say whether further action would be taken against the residents if a candle is proven to be the cause of the fire.

The two students who had lived in the room could not be reached for comment last night.

"Students should read the terms and conditions of their dorm contracts about what they should not have -- what they are not supposed to have -- in their rooms," Hand said. "It would reduce the danger of fire."

An earlier statement by Alpha Fire Chief Robert Kauffman indicated two appliances, a telephone answering machine and an electric alarm clock, as possible causes of the fire which caused $30,000 damage to the room and hallway.

Housing and Laundry Services Director Donald Arndt said electrical outlets and fixtures in the room were repaired Tuesday following an investigation by University police. Further repairs are not scheduled at this time because the room will not be needed for the remainder of spring semester, he said.

Arndt could not say whether the two residents of the room would face disciplinary charges if the police investigation proved that the fire was caused by a candle.

"I couldn't comment on that. We'll have to wait and see," Arndt said.

No changes in fire response policy have been initiated at this time, Hand said, though the University is considering several internal policy changes designed to cut response time to certain types of alarms.

Residence Hall Programs Director Gail Hurley said fire safety programs are included in house meetings and University publications already detail fire safety procedures and guidelines on appliances and other items not allowed in dorm rooms.

A Student Fire Safety Committee made up of volunteer fire marshals also works to improve fire safety in the dorms and fire drills are held once a month, Hurley said.

"Whenever something bad happens, people become more aware of fire safety," Hurley said. "I think more students will read the posters posted and distributed. When the resident assistant talks about fire safety, more people will listen."

When hazardous appliances or other materials are found in dorm rooms, Hurley said, students are asked to remove the items immediately.

An alarm signaled University police at 9 p.m. last Thursday, firefighters were called at 9:06 p.m. and Alpha Fire Company arrived at 9:14 p.m., according to Centre County Communications Center Records. No one was injured in the fire.

"Every time we have a fire, it's a learning experience," Hand said, noting that the campus has not faced a similar fire in recent memory.