ITHACA, N.Y. -- After an investigation by the Ithaca Fire Department and Cornell Police, a Cornell student has been charged in connection with a fire that occurred in a fraternity house Oct. 18.

Firefighters extinguished a fire in a mattress in the Zeta Psi fraternity, 534 Thurston Ave., at 11:53 p.m. on Oct. 18. The department's Fire Investigation Unit determined the cause of the fire as "incendiary."

Cornell Police have charged student Gregory Kenderdine, 21, a member of the fraternity, with reckless endangerment in the first degree, a D felony, and arson in the 5th degree, a misdemeanor.

He is scheduled to appear in Ithaca City Court Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m.

Raymond Wheaton, assistant fire chief, said smoke detectors in the room where the fire was set "may have averted a tragedy."

Lt. Richard Tracy of the Ithaca Fire Department's Fire Investigation Unit and senior investigator Scott C. Hamilton of Cornell Police led the investigation into the incident.