Officials said the building could be a total loss and no hazardous materials were released. St Pete Fire and Rescue said lightning was reported in the area around the time the fire started. University President Moez Limayem said lightning is being investigated as a possible cause, but the cause remains under investigation.
Officials said the fire prompted evacuations. According to Michael Lewis, more than 60 units and about 200 firefighters responded. Officials said classes and exams scheduled for the lab building will be relocated. Limayem said recovery teams are working to prioritize key research material and equipment for salvage assessment. "We will rebuild stronger than ever and my commitment is to do everything we can to move quickly to ensure that we have the best possible facilities," Limayem said.
The full extent of damage to research materials and equipment is not yet known. It is unclear how long it will take to rebuild the laboratory or the estimated cost.