A fire, believed to be the work of an arsonist, broke out in the CRIMSON building early Sunday morning causing damage estimated at $2,000.

According to fire inspectors, the blaze was set on top of 12,000 pounds of unused paper by a person or persons who entered a side door into a basement folding room in the 14 Plympton St. building. Most of the damage resulted from water poured on the burning paper by firemen and a sprinkler system.

Apparently the fire was set at approximately 10:30, and reported shortly before 11 a.m. No one connected with the CRIMSON was in the building at the time.

Although investigators have no leads as to who might be responsible for the blaze, there were reports from passers-by that several children were seen around the building shortly before the alarm connected with the sprinkling system went off.

It is believed, however, that the fire may be connected with an incident last week in which telephone wires were cut by someone who entered the building late Wednesday or early Thursday. The connection box, where the wires were clipped, is located in the same room in which the fire broke out.

Representatives from the telephone company said that the wires had been carefully severed and the casings replaced in such a way as to conceal that they had been tampered with. The pains taken in the job would seem to indicate that children were not responsible.

Fire inspectors discovered several bits of burned paper and photographs upstairs in the building which were apparently unconnected with the fire in the folding room.

Paper losses due to the fire will not affect publication of the CRIMSON as a sufficient stock is still on hand.

The CRIMSON offers a reward of $25 for information leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for the fire on Sunday morning.