USF Marine Science Lab hearth leaves St. Petersburg constructing a ‘whole loss’

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A large hearth broke out Saturday afternoon at a laboratory constructing on the College of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, authorities mentioned.

Campus police mentioned hearth crews had been referred to as to the Marine Science Laboratory constructing for a structure fire .

No accidents have been reported, and the constructing was safely evacuated, police mentioned.

The reason for the hearth is below investigation.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/672/378/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1344/756/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/931/523/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1862/1046/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Firefighters work to extinguish a hearth on the College of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Might 2, 2026. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Occasions through AP)

Massive plumes of grey smoke had been seen rising from the constructing late Saturday.

In accordance with the Tampa Bay Occasions, college students and workers had been alerted to the hearth shortly earlier than 6 p.m.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/672/378/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news-003.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1344/756/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news-003.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/931/523/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news-003.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1862/1046/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news-003.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> First responders work to extinguish a hearth on the College of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Might 2, 2026. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Occasions through AP)

The college despatched an alert studying: "Pressing Alert. Fireplace reported in MSL, Marine Science Lab. Evacuate constructing. Keep away from space. Emergency personnel responding."

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St. Petersburg Fireplace Chief Michael Lewis mentioned greater than 60 models and about 200 firefighters responded to the scene.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/343/192/university-south-florida-firefighters-st-petersburg-fox-news-002.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/686/384/university-south-florida-firefighters-st-petersburg-fox-news-002.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/672/378/university-south-florida-firefighters-st-petersburg-fox-news-002.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1344/756/university-south-florida-firefighters-st-petersburg-fox-news-002.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/931/523/university-south-florida-firefighters-st-petersburg-fox-news-002.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1862/1046/university-south-florida-firefighters-st-petersburg-fox-news-002.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/720/405/university-south-florida-firefighters-st-petersburg-fox-news-002.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1440/810/university-south-florida-firefighters-st-petersburg-fox-news-002.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> Firefighters work to extinguish a hearth on the College of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Might 2, 2026, as onlookers watch. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Occasions through AP)

Lewis mentioned round 9 p.m. that the hearth was largely extinguished however that the constructing is probably going "a complete loss."

"All the roof has burned off," he mentioned, in line with the report.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/672/378/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news-001.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1344/756/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news-001.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/931/523/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news-001.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1862/1046/university-south-florida-fire-st-petersburg-fox-news-001.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Firefighters battle a hearth on the College of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Might 2, 2026. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Occasions through AP)