Students were evacuated by the sounding of the alarm at around 11 p.m. Friday and were allowed to return to their rooms after 40 minutes.

Firefighters had been notified of the smoke coming from room 302 by a proctor, Mark McComiskey, who lives on the third floor and was informed about the smoke by another third-floor resident.

Two ladder companies, three engine companies and one rescue division reported to the scene.

Students returning to the third floor after the evacuation discovered a pile of ashes outside room 302, residents said.

"There was debris and burnt ashes on the floor," Toni M. Diegoli '00 said. "A lot of students were crowded around."

Lorraine Sterritt, assistant dean of first-years, declined comment on the incident.

Students in the same proctor group as the room's residents said that Thayer is abuzz with rumors about the incident.

But the students were hesitant to lay blame before any official meeting was called.

"There's a lot of rumors going around, but I don't know what to make of them," said Karen L. Cheng '00. "They're pretty sketchy."

Cheng's roommate, Jennifer B. Glick '00, said the residents of room 302 are "both great guys."

"It's just really unfortunate that all these rumors are going around," Glick said. "They don't deserve it--they're just amazing people.