Two-alarm fire destroyed the marine science laboratory; no injuries

Dear USF community, This morning, I am writing to share an update as USF continues to assess the damage from a structure fire in the Marine Science Laboratory (MSL) building on the St. Petersburg campus. We are very grateful that there were no injuries reported. Emergency personnel from St. Pete Fire Rescue and other agencies worked late into the night to extinguish the fire. There is no ongoing public safety threat and no hazardous materials were released, but please continue to avoid this part of campus and follow all emergency guidance in the nearby area. St. Pete Fire Rescue said there was lightning reported in the area around the time the fire started, but the cause remains under investigation. While our full assessment is ongoing, and will only be completed once it is safe to do so, initial information indicates the MSL building may be a total loss. 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. This is unfortunate as MSL has a rich history and longtime connection to St. Petersburg's maritime community. The building has been home to important marine science education and research, and the work that has been done there has helped USF become a national leader in this field. Rest assured, we will rebuild stronger than ever, and my commitment is to do everything we can to move quickly to ensure we have the best possible facilities to support our world-class students, faculty and staff. Our immediate focus is taking care of our people, and then on maintaining academic and research continuity. We are working to relocate any classes or exams scheduled to be held in the area. For researchers, students and staff who used the MSL facility, we are evaluating our options to find alternative spaces. Our "Sailebration" event in St. Pete to celebrate our graduating students will go on as scheduled. Additional updates will be shared directly with those who use the building and anyone else impacted as soon as we have more information to provide. Fortunately, no other buildings were damaged by the fire. Classes and normal business operations have resumed on the St. Pete campus, except for MSL and the other facilities on Peninsula Drive, including the Knight Oceanographic Research Center and the Plant Operations/Receiving facility. I want to thank St. Pete Fire Rescue, the USF Police Department and all the first responders, along with our university staff, who are providing assistance. This situation adds to what has already been a challenging time for our university community, and I know this can be a stressful week with final exams and the end of a semester. Your well-being is always our top priority. For those who need support, resources are available through the university. Students have access to TimelyCare 24/7 as well as in-person counseling services on campus. Faculty and staff can access the Employee Assistance Program. The last few weeks have tested our resilience, but our USF community is strong, we protect one another, and we will get through this together. Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other. Sincerely, Moez Limayem, PhD President