A massive fire erupted on Saturday afternoon at a laboratory facility located on the University of South campus in , according to authorities.
Campus police said that fire crews were dispatched to the Marine Science Laboratory building in response to a structural fire.
There have been no reports of injuries, and police confirmed that the building was evacuated safely.
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USF St. Pete Marine Science Lab fire cause
The cause of the USF St. Pete Marine Science Lab is currently under investigation.
Large clouds of gray smoke were observed billowing from the building late Saturday.
As per the Times, students and staff were notified of the fire shortly before 6 p.m.
“Urgent Alert. Fire reported in MSL, Marine Science Lab. Evacuate building. Avoid area. Emergency personnel responding,” the school stated in an urgent warning to students.
USF St. Pete Marine Science Lab fire: 200 firefighters dispatched
St. Petersburg Fire Chief Michael Lewis reported that over 60 units and approximately 200 firefighters were dispatched to the location.
Lewis stated around 9 p.m. that the fire had mostly been put out, but the structure is probably “a total loss.”
“The entire roof has burned off,” he stated, as per the report.
USF police said that they will offer further updates as more details emerge.
USF St. Petersburg calls it ‘total devastation’
Frank Biafora, the Interim Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USF St. Petersburg, informed the outlet that an electrical storm may have triggered the fire, as per NY POST.
“We have faculty members who have research labs there. This looks like total devastation, We’ve all been checking in on each other, ” Biafora said.
Biafora stated that the fire had the potential to be significantly more severe.
80 year old laboratory
According to the Daily Mail, USF Sailing coach Allison Jolly said that the building’s age may have rendered it susceptible to fire, noting that the laboratory was constructed 80 years ago.
“[The lab] probably lacked some of the modern fire prevention things… It’s one thing to have equipment ruined, but to have years of research go up in flames is so sad,” she stated.
