An explosive fire broke out on the University of Massachusetts campus Tuesday, sending up billows of gaseous smoke that could be seen from off the campus in Amherst, Mass.
Amherst Assistant Fire Chief Michael Zlogar said the fire department received a phone call around 8 p.m. that a building behind Morrill Science Center was on fire.
“There were two significant explosions, which we believe were caused by the acetylene and oxygen tanks,” Zlogar said.
The building’s official name is the New Massachusetts Foundry Building. However, according to campus maps, it’s still known as the Conservation Building. Deputy Chief Patrick Archibald said that at more than 100 years old, it is one of the oldest buildings on campus.
Student monitor Justin Clark said the building is used primarily for welding projects. Some of the chemicals inside included acetylene, propane, oxygen and argon, a nonflammable chemical. Acetylene is a gaseous compound composed of carbon and hydrogen and is often used in welding and organic synthesis.
The two-alarm fire brought in the UMass student fire department, along with units from Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown and Northampton.
“No one was hurt,” said Joanne Vanin, UMass Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
There were no students inside the building, and the last class in the Foundry was out at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday. None of the firefighters were injured, but the university says it is still taking extra precautions.
“They (art department faculty and staff) have been working on a class list to confirm we know where all the students are,” Zlogar said.
According to Zlogar, the entire roof and the second floor collapsed. Firefighters contained the blaze by 9:19 p.m., but it was still smoldering. The Foundry shares the same transformer as several other science buildings, temporarily shutting down power in those facilities.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the state fire marshal, a detective from the UMPD and two detectives from Amherst. Barbara Pitoniak, from the UMass News Office, said there was no estimate on the amount of damage done.
“The whole building was an inferno,” said Brian Fusonie, a graduate student. Fusonie was inside Morrill II when the fire started. Fusonie said he saw the first explosion and that the inside of Morrill smelled like smoke fumes.
“From within the flames there was this bright white light,” Fusonie said. “And the flames just spurted out the roof.”
The flames and smoke could also be seen a good distance away and attracted many onlookers.
“You could see it from out a second-floor window,” said Megan Venator, a student who lives on Nutting Street.
Ed Wong, who was walking by the library, said he could see the fire from there.
“They responded very quickly. Up on any elevated surface on campus you could see it,” Wong said.
This is the third fire to take place on the Massachusetts campus this year. March 8, a fire at the Physical Plant caused heavy smoke and closed the building temporarily. In early February, an electrical fire in North Village destroyed two apartment units. Another fire started Feb. 12 in Van Meter dormitory, when a student tossed a cigarette butt into a trash can.
Katya Yerozolimsky, 21, died in an off-campus fire on Sand Hill Road April 7.