Investigators Unable to Determine Cause of Adams House Dorm Fire

The Cambridge Fire Department determined it cannot identify the cause of the April 5 fire in Adams House that displaced roughly 18 students through the end of the semester.

The fire, which broke out in a fourth-floor dorm room in Randolph Hall, began when the corner of a mattress ignited, investigators concluded with “reasonable scientific certainty.” But while officials were able to pinpoint where the fire started, they were unable to determine what sparked it.

Investigators ruled out several possible causes, including an electrical malfunction, appliances, lithium-ion batteries, and a candle. Although a candle was present in the room, the report found no evidence that it had been recently used or played a role in causing the fire.

The only explanation investigation could not eliminate was the possibility that smoking materials had been improperly discarded. An ashtray containing “smoking materials in various stages of consumption” was found on a windowsill next to the mattress where the fire began. But no smoking materials were located at the point of origin, and the student living in the room told investigators no one had been smoking inside.

The fire was reported shortly after 2 a.m., prompting more than 150 students to evacuate Randolph Hall. By the time firefighters arrived, a sprinkler inside the room had already extinguished the flames, though smoke continued to fill the space, according to the report.

The sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading, and firefighters did not deploy a hose line. Crews shut off the sprinklers after confirming the fire was out.

Even so, the fire caused extensive damage to several dorm rooms, largely from smoke, debris, and water. Five rooms were left uninhabitable, forcing about 18 students to relocate for the remainder of the semester on mere hours’ notice.

A College spokesperson declined to provide a timeline for when the rooms would be habitable again or confirm receipt of the fire report. Three affected rooms — including the one where the fire broke out — were listed in the Adams Housing lottery as available for the upcoming academic year. (Adams House withholds some rooms from the lottery for accommodations or pre-placements, according to its website.)

In the days that followed the fire, Harvard administrators offered affected students a range of support services, including dry cleaning, access to mental health resources, and guidance on filing insurance claims for damaged belongings.

On April 10, Adams House faculty deans notified displaced students that they would receive a stipend to help offset expenses related to the disruption.

“We are also happy to share that the College has approved the amount of $500 in recognition of miscellaneous extraordinary expenses related to the disruption of your housing since your suite was directly impacted by the attempts to extinguish the fire,” the deans wrote in an email obtained by The Crimson.

College administrators have not provided further details on potential reimbursement for damaged belongings, according to three affected students. In an April 15 email obtained by The Crimson, the University’s Risk Strategy and Insurance team told a student it was awaiting the CFD’s report before offering additional guidance.

“While we await the official determination of the cause of the fire from the Cambridge Fire Department, we encourage students to begin pursuing claims through their student renters insurance or applicable homeowners policies,” the email read.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, all residents in Randolph were temporarily displaced because of smoke, water, and electrical damage. Students were initially told to find alternate housing for the night and were allowed to return later that morning once the scene was cleared.

—Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at shawnb.18. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.

—Staff writer Claire A. Michal can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at ClaireMichal.154.