Overview
- The Marine Science Laboratory on USF’s St. Petersburg campus, which caught fire Saturday evening, was evacuated with no injuries reported.
- St. Petersburg Fire Chief Michael Lewis said the roof burned off and the structure is likely a total loss.
- More than 60 units and about 200 firefighters responded as streets closed and collapse zones were set around the building.
- Officials declared a hazmat response and reported no off-campus air hazard after monitoring, with winds pushing smoke over the water.
- The blaze threatens decades of research and stored samples in the aging facility as investigators work to determine the cause.