Students evacuated from Florida university building as huge blaze breaks out on campus
Saturday afternoon in St. A fast-moving fire destroyed a building on the University of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, sending thick clouds of smoke into the sky and triggering a major emergency response.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue crews rushed to the scene at 140 7th Avenue South, where flames were emerging from the roof of a two-story building.
St. The St. Pete Fire Department said the building is the USF Marine Science Laboratory, which is more than 80 years old.
A student at the university said the building was home to dozens of dangerous chemicals.
One student wrote online: ‘All our research and chemicals are stored there, including those required in chemistry classes.
Another said that destroying the building would have major consequences for the scientific community.
‘The burning building doesn’t just store paper. Stores entire careers of samples. It houses laboratories dedicated to hurricane research, red tide research, and fish and ecology research. One student said that these were samples collected from hundreds of research expeditions that could not be replaced.
‘This will be a huge loss to society because most people have no idea what data is coming from the people in that building. ‘I worked there for 10 years and I am saddened by the loss of my extended family.’
While the two-alarm fire caused a major emergency response, St. Thick clouds of smoke could be seen rising over a commercial building near the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg.
Bright orange flames could be seen coming from the roof of what is believed to be a science building.
The fire broke out close to the sea and the flames were visible from the back of the boats.
Thick clouds of smoke rising over the area could be seen for miles as firefighters from about 60 fire trucks worked to control the blaze.
Authorities confirmed that the fire went to second alarm, indicating the seriousness of the situation, and that the streets around the building were closed as a precaution against the possibility of collapse.
The structure, described as a non-residential commercial property, was quickly evacuated and no injuries have been reported so far, authorities said.
While emergency teams are fighting the flames, the extent of the damage is not yet known. Police described it as a hazmat situation.
The cause of the fire continues to be investigated.
Smoke seen from afar
The building is home to the University of South Florida in St. He can be seen in the middle of this photo in a file photo of his campus in St. Petersburg.
This is a breaking news with updates to follow.
