ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) \u2014 University of South Florida President Moez Limayem said on Sunday the Marine Science Laboratory on the St. Pete campus may be a \u201ctotal loss\u201d after a large fire broke out Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile 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,\u201d Limayem said in a statement. \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two-alarm fire broke out at around 6:30 p.m. on May 2, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue said. Fortunately, the building was safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.<\/p>\n
Florida Lottery player scores $20 million win with ticket from Caribbean restaurant <\/a><\/p>\n An officer told reporters on scene that the fire was being considered a hazmat situation, but Limayem said on Sunday that no hazardous materials were released. Still, students and faculty are being asked to avoid the area and follow guidance from first responders.<\/p>\n SPFR District Chief Michael Lewis said the fire, while mostly extinguished by around 9 p.m., caused extensive damage to the building.<\/p>\n Limayem said his administration is working to relocate classes and exams that were scheduled to take place in the MSL building, as well as find alternatives for those who used the facility for research purposes.<\/p>\n \u2018MAGA\u2019 influencer among 200+ arrested in Polk County prostitution sting <\/a><\/p>\n Other buildings on Peninsula Drive, including the Knight Oceanographic Research Center and the Plant Operations\/Receiving facility, are also off-limits as cleanup and recovery efforts continue.<\/p>\n \u201cOur immediate focus is taking care of our people, and then on maintaining academic and research continuity,\u201d the university president said.<\/p>\n He also confirmed that no other buildings were damaged in the fire and that classes and regular campus operations will continue as normal.<\/p>\n The devastating fire comes as the USF community is already reeling from the shocking murders of two graduate students, Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis 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,\u201d Limayem said. \u201cYour well-being is always our top priority. For those who need support, resources are available through the university.\u201d<\/p>\n Read Limayem\u2019s full statement here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n