PHOENIX (AZ Family) — Two small fires at an apartment building at Grand Canyon University have left more than 20 students without a place to stay.

Police say firefighters responded to the scene just after 9:20 a.m.

GCU emailed students that the reported crime was arson and the suspects are unknown.

Police say they are still investigating, but that the scene indicated a likelihood that the fires were arson.

“I’m not going to lie, like every week there’s a fire alarm. Every week,” said student Elias Murrell.

“I thought it was going to be a normal day, like someone doesn’t know how to cook,” said Logan Martinez, another student.

Students told the Arizona family that cooking accidents often set off fire alarms in campus dormitories and apartments.

“It was kind of surprising, I won’t lie. I mean, students do stupid things all the time, but arson is never okay. Especially something serious like this,” Murrell said.

Police said that while the fire was quickly extinguished, the real damage came from the sprinkler system.

Martinez is one of the students staying at Agave Apartments who had to evacuate and relocate.

“I like to feel safe in my own room and right now it’s not. They don’t even know who it is,” Martinez said.

GCU said all students were evacuated from the building, and those whose rooms were not affected were allowed to return later that day.

However, GCU added that six apartments, each with four bedrooms, sustained water damage as crews battled the fires.

As a result, about 24 students had to be moved to other halls on campus.

Martinez said it’s a stressful situation with midterms and deadlines for other projects.

He said he is now in a room with three other men and has no idea when he can return to his apartment.

Martinez said the school gave her a $3 laundry voucher.

“I’m just trying to finish my studies, but it’s hard,” he said.

He hopes the school improves its student accommodation in these cases if it happens again.

Most importantly, Martinez and other students want the case resolved soon.

“I hope the university keeps us safe, finds people, finds the suspect (and) gets him out of here, honestly,” he said.

Several other students told the Arizona family that GCU has good protocol for providing transparency and communication with students during emergencies.

Phoenix police said the Phoenix Fire Department’s Arson Investigators Task Force responded to take over the investigation. They are working with GCU Police and GCU administrators regarding the investigation.

No arrests have been made.

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