A small fire in a mailbox in Hollander forced building occupants to evacuate on the evening of Jan. 7. The Williamstown Fire Department (WFD) and Campus Safety Services responded to the incident. The incident is being investigated as a possible case of arson by the Williamstown Police Department (WPD) at the WFD’s request, WPD Chief Mike Ziemba told the Record.

As of Jan. 27, the first floor of the building, where the fire took place, appeared undamaged.

Linda Grandshaw, administrative assistant to the history department, told the Record that she was aware that there had been a fire in a professor’s mailbox, but had received no further details from College staff.

Arabic Teaching Associate Merouane Ait Rais was in Hollander when the fire alarm sounded. “I heard the noise, so I packed up, gathered my laptop and everything, and I just hurried to get out,” he said. “While I was exiting, we saw smoke coming out.”

Sam Wexler ’26 told the Record that the building smelled strongly of smoke when he hosted a meeting there the next day.