McKale Center fire started in equipment room, cause still undetermined

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By KYLE MITTAN

Kyle Mittan / Arizona Daily Wildcat

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A fire was reported Saturday night in McKale Center after a smoke alarm was triggered inside the building.

According to Cpt. Barrett Baker, a public information officer with the Tucson Fire Department, units from the University of Arizona Police Department were the first on the scene after the initial alarm at about 9:24 p.m.

After seeing active smoke coming from the building, UAPD alerted TFD, whose first responders arrived at about 9:29, and, after confirming that smoke was coming from the top of the building, responders called for a full alarm. In total, two alarms were activated, and about 40 firefighters responded to the scene, and quickly put out the fire Baker added.

The fire started in an equipment room in the lower bowl area of the building. While TPD has not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, Baker speculated that it could have come from lint from a dryer in the room. Nobody was in the building when the fire occurred.

Investigators are currently working to determine the fire’s cause, according to a press release from TPD.

The size of the fire could also not be confirmed, but Baker said it was large enough to set off both alarms and sprinkler systems.

TFD units were leaving the scene at about 11:16.