UI Release
09/01/23
No one was injured in a Thursday afternoon fire on the University of Iowa campus.
According to a release from the UI Public Safety Department, Iowa City Fire crews responded to a fire at the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories (IATL), 205 North Madison Street at 1:07 pm.
The University of Iowa Police Department (UIPD), UI Fire Safety, and the Iowa City Fire Department (ICFD) were all dispatched to the building. Upon arrival, those evacuating the building directed first responders to the southwest side of the building, where they observed smoke coming out of the stainless-steel wall panels.
Fire crews removed steel wall panels and construction materials in the affected area and bordering areas to check for fire extension and extinguished any burning materials. The scene was stabilized by 2 p.m. and fire crews officially cleared the scene at 2:13 p.m.
Occupants were allowed back inside the building once the fire was extinguished, and the damage is not expected to impact day-to-day operations.
The incident was reported in a timely manner thanks to the vigilance of a staff member working in the building who smelled burning wood. Upon further investigation, the staff member discovered smoke coming from behind the steel panels outside the building, re-entered the building, and activated a manual pull station.
An investigation into the source of the fire is ongoing. A damage estimate is not yet available.