CALIFORNIA, Pa. --
A student who dresses as California University of Pennsylvania's Vulcan mascot -- nicknamed Blaze -- is accused of setting fire to a broken-down homecoming float.
The criminal complaint said James Schaffer, 20, was wearing the shaggy-haired costume of Vulcan -- a mythological god of fire -- when he burned the float on a wooden wagon after Cal's homecoming parade last weekend.
"He (Schaffer) was at the same party with us. He was wearing what witnesses say he was wearing when he burned down the float," said student Ryan Labrusky.
California borough police said the float was parked on a street after it had broken down during the parade.
"There were all these fire trucks and things like that parked in front of my house. (I) thought mine was on fire. Luckily it wasn't a house, it was a float from the homecoming parade," said student Melanie Malloy.
By phone, a Cal U. spokeswoman told Channel 4 Action News on Tuesday that Shaffer was undergoing an evaluation at a "medical facility."
"This young man is a well-known and well-liked member of the campus community. The university acknowledges the serious nature of the charges he is facing, but our immediate concern is for his health and well-being," the school said in a statement.
Shaffer, of Johnstown, is charged with arson, according to the criminal complaint.
Copyright 2010 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
