Arson

COLLEGE PARK. Md.--Arson caused a two-alarm fire that last month swept through the student union at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland, William J. Lopes, a spokesman for the university, said this week.

No one was hurt in the blaze. However, the alarm failed to sound, even though students and union officials attempted to ring the alarm. This malfunction prompted concern among fire and safety officials that many occupants received little or no warning of the danger.

The fire caused an estimated $1 million damage and threatened the lives of more than 150 people in the building, including the president of the University, the university's campus newspaper the Diamondback, reported.