USF Fire: Major Blaze Tear Through St Petersburg, Florida, Campus Building

Fire crews in St Petersburg, Florida, have responded to a major blaze at the University of South Florida, where a second alarm has been issued. The fire broke out at a two-storey building on 7th Avenue South, with smoke and flames reported coming from the roof.

Emergency services remain at the scene, and further details about the extent of the fire or any injuries have not yet been confirmed. Reacting to the incident, a user wrote on X: “The fire continues to burn at the USF building at 140 7th Avenue S. Collapse zones are being set up.”

Several firetrucks could be seen in the area around 6 pm as flames burst from the roof of a building and a large plume of smoke billowed into the air. A spokesperson for the University of South Florida confirmed to 10 Tampa Bay News that the fire originated at the school’s Marine Science Labs. The facility, which is a key part of the university’s research infrastructure, is more than 80 years old.

First responders successfully cleared the area immediately following the outbreak. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue reported that the building was safely evacuated, and there have been no reports of injuries among students, staff, or emergency personnel at this time.

This is a Developing Story and will be updated soon