The fire at a University of South Florida marine science laboratory on the St. Petersburg campus broke out Saturday night, prompting evacuations and sending up plumes of billowing smoke from the building, according to USF officials. Firefighters worked through the night to put out the blaze, and on Sunday officials said the lab building could be a total loss.
University of South Florida President Moez Limayem told students and staff in a message that the extent of the damage appeared extensive as assessments continued. He said recovery teams were working with the College of Marine Science to prioritize key research material and equipment for salvage assessment once the building is cleared.
Limayem also said no injuries were reported. He added that officials found that no hazardous materials were released during the fire.
The university said the cause of the blaze remained under investigation. USF also said classes and exams scheduled for the laboratory building would be relocated as officials complete damage assessments and plan the next steps for the campus and the affected research spaces.