A significant blaze erupted on Saturday afternoon at a laboratory facility located on the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus, according to local authorities.
University campus police reported that fire crews were dispatched to address the structural fire at the Marine Science Laboratory building.
Thankfully, there have been no reports of injuries, and the building was evacuated safely, the police confirmed.
The origins of the fire are currently under investigation.
Firefighters were actively working to put out the flames at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus on May 2, 2026. (Photo credit: Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Late into Saturday, substantial clouds of gray smoke could be seen billowing from the affected building.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, students and staff were alerted to the fire shortly before 6 p.m.
First responders work to extinguish a fire at the University of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, on May 2, 2026. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
The school sent an alert reading: “Urgent Alert. Fire reported in MSL, Marine Science Lab. Evacuate building. Avoid area. Emergency personnel responding.”
St. Petersburg Fire Chief Michael Lewis said more than 60 units and about 200 firefighters responded to the scene.
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at the University of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, on May 2, 2026, as onlookers watch. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Lewis said around 9 p.m. that the fire was largely extinguished but that the building is likely “a total loss.”
“The entire roof has burned off,” he said, according to the report.
Firefighters battle a fire on the University of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, on May 2, 2026. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
USF police said it will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.
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