UPDATE: Charging battery blamed for causing fire on U of I campus
Share this @internewscast.com

Update at 4 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign Fire Department shared additional details about the fire at the University of Illinois’ Research Park on Saturday afternoon, including its cause.

According to Randy Smith, the department’s Public Information Officer, crews responded to a reported fire at 12:08 p.m. in the two-story Atkins Building. Upon arrival, firefighters located a small fire inside the office building, which was confined to a battery that was undergoing charging.

“Firefighters extinguished the fire using a fire extinguisher and moved the battery outside,” Smith stated. “Crews successfully kept the fire limited to the item containing the battery.”

The cause of the fire was determined to be an accident and no injuries were reported.


CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Firefighters responded to a building fire on the University of Illinois campus Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred at the Atkins Building, situated in Research Park at the junction of Oak Street and St. Mary’s Avenue. An Illini Alert was issued at 12:30 p.m., advising individuals to vacate the area immediately if present. A follow-up alert was dispatched 30 minutes later, indicating the emergency had concluded.

WCIA reporters on the scene observed at least six fire trucks from both Champaign and Urbana Fire Departments. AMT ambulances were on-site, along with the U of I Police Department.

This is a developing story.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Potential Government Shutdown Threatens as Congress Resumes Post-August Break

Congressional Republicans celebrated a major triumph this summer by approving President Donald…

China’s Xi and India’s Modi Commit to Settling Border Disputes during Tianjin Meeting

TIANJIN – On Sunday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister…

Chicago Mayor Stands Against Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Plan

The mayor of Chicago criticized the “out-of-control” Trump administration’s strategy to deploy…

Alawite Families Evacuate Damascus Suburb Following Violence and Eviction Threats

DAMASCUS – Members of Syria’s Alawite religious minority are departing a Damascus…

Man Arrested Following Shooting at Officers and Subsequent Standoff

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. () — A man was taken into custody early…

Child Safely Rescued from Walking on Hersheypark Monorail Tracks

HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) – A child was rescued with the assistance of…

Momentum Builds to Rename Defense Department to ‘War’ Agency

The Trump administration is advancing plans to rename the Department of Defense…

Humans Are Now Employed to Improve AI Generated Content Quality

Brands that have been discovered using AI continue to encounter consumer backlash.…

‘Astonishing’: Young Girl in Coma Dances to Taylor Swift

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jade Metivier was only 13 when she went…

AC/DC Music and Scarlett Johansson’s Voice on Drones Aid Biologists in Shielding Cattle from Wolves

For millennia humans have tried to scare wolves away from their livestock.…

Local Police Departments Grieve the Passing of a GBI Special Agent

GLENNVILLE, Ga. () — Area law enforcement agencies are mourning the loss…

Former Art Teacher of Minneapolis Church Shooter Noticed Signs of Self-Harm

An art teacher who had the Annunciation Catholic Church shooter in her…