A former employee of the University of Tennessee is accused of setting two fires at a Knoxville dormitory.
The university says Amy Ellis, who was a housekeeper at UT’s Humes Hall, has been charged with aggravated arson.
Ellis was hired on Nov. 27 as a temporary employee, and her job ended Jan. 29.
Residents at the women’s dormitory were evacuated after a fire was discovered Jan. 28 in a study lounge and again Jan. 29 after a bulletin board was found to be burning.
A university spokeswoman said Wednesday that Ellis passed a background check. Because she was hired for a specific amount of time, no cause for termination was necessary.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Natural-Disaster Insurance Gap Now Exceeds $420 Billion Globally 
Artist Suing FIFA Over Destruction of Dallas Whale Mural 
United Co-Pilot Warned Plane Was Slow, Low Before Newark Mishap 
AIG’s Turnaround Under Zaffino Sets Stage for New Leadership 
