A two-alarm fire broke out inside a laboratory at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg on Saturday, and video showed green flames shooting from the building.
According to Fox 13, the fire at the university’s marine science laboratory was reported after a witness saw flames from outside.
About 200 firefighters and multiple units responded to the scene to battle the blaze, and St. Petersburg Fire District Chief Michael Lewis told the outlet on Saturday that crews would monitor the scene overnight.
“We’re just removing some hotspots. We’re investigating and confirming all the hazardous materials that are on scene. This will be a very comprehensive process to confirm that there are no active fires on any hazardous materials,” he explained.
video footage showed As soon as the alarm went off, green flames started coming out from the roof of the building:
Witnesses saw smoke miles away from the area and officials said it would take some time to be sure there was no chemical leak inside the building.
Officials said no one was injured as a result and all were identified after the fire was brought under control.
The Fox article stated, “Only the marine science laboratory was affected by the fire. The Ocean Research Laboratory was not damaged, and students should report to class on Monday.”
According to WTSP, the building is more than 80 years old.
aerial video footage shows The fire was so fierce that its smoke filled the sky:
A witness named Ashley Briscoe said she was leaving a nearby building when she realized what was happening.
“I was right next to the building. They were even saying the building could collapse. As we were walking out, they were saying, ‘Oh my God, hurry up, the building could possibly collapse.’ That’s very scary,'” she recalled.
another clip showed Emergency vehicles arrived at the scene as soon as the sirens sounded:
Lewis said there is no threat to surrounding areas as a result of the fire and reassured neighbors that they are safe. He also noted that the roof of the lab was completely burned and had water damage.
Officials are preparing to launch an investigation into the cause of the fire.
