ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Emergency crews battled flames throughout Saturday night at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus, where a marine science laboratory building suffered what officials are calling potentially complete destruction.
The Saturday evening blaze forced evacuations as thick smoke clouds rose from the research facility. University President Moez Limayem confirmed in a statement to the campus community that no one was hurt in the incident and that no dangerous substances escaped during the fire.
Investigators have not yet determined what sparked the flames.
According to Limayem, teams are still evaluating the full scope of damage, though early assessments suggest widespread destruction throughout the facility.
“Our recovery teams are working with the College of Marine Science to prioritize key research material and equipment for salvage assessment when the building is cleared,” Limayem wrote.
University officials announced that any classes and testing sessions originally planned for the damaged laboratory will be moved to alternative locations.
