Christopher Dorros '97 admitted to starting last week's fire in a trash can on the fourth floor of Gile Hall in a letter to The Dartmouth late last week.
Dorros said he had emptied his ashtray into the garbage can about one hour before the fire alarm went off on Feb. 4.
"I did not know that there were embers amongst the ash that later ignited the fire," Dorros wrote.
Dorros said he told his Undergraduate Advisor Sharon Karlsberg '96 about his actions the next morning.
Karlsberg said she spoke to officials in the Office of Residential who told her the College covers the costs of accidental fires. "It was an accidental fire and there is not a charge for setting the fire," Karlsberg said.
Dorros said he did not confess to starting the fire in a Feb. 6 interview with The Dartmouth because he realized the reporter did not know he was guilty.
"I did so because of my assessment of the situation. The truth of the story could, by no means, be conserved under these rushed conditions," Dorros wrote.
Dorros said he did not think the episode was a big deal.
"I'd like to put the whole thing behind me now," he said.
