Up to 100 students and staff may have lost work in major fire at University of St Andrews
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It is feared up to 100 postgraduate students and academics may have lost their work after a major fire took hold in a science building at the University of St Andrews on Sunday.
Emergency services were alerted to reports of a fire involving suspected hazardous materials at the university in Fife, Scotland, just before 5pm on Sunday (11 Feb). Scottish Fire and Rescue have confirmed the fire has now been extinguished and there were no casualties.
St Andrews Chemistry building fire spreading through the cladding. pic.twitter.com/jRtf2hRArX
— Neil Lawson (@NeilLawson) February 10, 2019
However, University of St Andrews chief operating officer Derek Watson say they are “concerned some of those materials (in the building) may have been lost”.
Eight fire engines including a height appliance and specialist resources were sent to tackle the huge blaze at the Biomedical Sciences Building.
Very sad to see. Fire at University of St Andrews. pic.twitter.com/QnuCjw0rKx
— WMG (@bstalkerbynatur) February 10, 2019
The building is a world-class research facility shared by St Andrews’ Schools of Chemistry and Biology. Built in the late 90s it houses laboratories which conduct research relating to issues such as antibiotic resistance and infectious disease.
The fire aftermath at #StAndrews pic.twitter.com/qR2jzL7F6S
— Sir Peto (@sirpeto) February 11, 2019
Approximately 100 staff and post graduate students work in the building and given the length of time it has been open, some academics may have lost between 20 to 30 years of work according to Derek Watson.
