Fire of unknown origin destroys conference building

July 20, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A fire Tuesday afternoon destroyed the Austin Cary Conference Building.

At about 2:25 p.m., the University of Florida Police Department and Alachua County Fire Rescue responded to a report of fire at the building, located in the Austin Cary Memorial Forest, off Waldo Road.

A witness, who works at the facility, indicated that he initially saw black smoke coming from the porch area of the building and then saw the fire inside the building. He immediately called for fire services. Upon arrival, units from both UFPD and ACFR discovered that the building was completely engulfed in flames and could not be extinguished in time to save it.

The building was used as the main facility within the forest for UF where lectures in forest resource education, demonstration and research were conducted. The building, constructed in 1987, was 3,200 square feet and was also a multi-use facility.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and has not been determined at this time. The costs from the loss of the building and items/equipment inside have also not been determined.