The University of South Florida’s (USF) Marine Science Laboratory (MSL) was heavily damaged by a fire on Saturday evening. The building was safely evacuated and no injuries were reported. University of South Florida President Moez Limayem updated the USF community on Sunday, noting that while there is no ongoing public safety threat and no hazardous materials were released, the building may be a total loss. “This is unfortunate as MSL has a rich history and longtime connection to St. Petersburg’s maritime community,” Limayem wrote. “The building has been home to important marine science education and research, and the work that has been done there has helped USF become a national leader in this field.” No other buildings were damaged by the fire and regular campus operations will continue as normal. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, several news outlets and meteorologists have speculated that it may have started due to a lightning strike. “The last few weeks have tested our resilience, but our USF community is strong, we protect one another, and we will get through this together. Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other,” Limayem wrote. Image by St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.