McKinly Laboratory on the Universtiy of Delaware Newark campus will be closed until at least Monday morning, due to fire damage.
The fire broke out just after 1 p.m. Wednesday in a basement room. The area was undergoing renovations. A spark created by a saw ignited the blaze, and the resulting heat traveled through the ventilation system, activating sprinklers on the second floor.
UD Emergency Services professionals, including police and Department of Environmental Health and Safety first responders, were on site within minutes, as were local fire crews, led by Newark’s Aetna Hook, Hose, and Ladder Company.
All occupants of the building were successfully evacuated and no civilian injuries were reported. Several firefighters were treated for heat-related medical issues.
Officials will review the extent of water and fire damage.
The laboratory a part of UD’s Biological Sciences Department was built in 1978. It is named after a trustee of the predecessor to the university.
The lab was opened in 1978
