four-alarm fire historic campus of Our Lady of the Lake University

A four-alarm fire ignited Tuesday evening on the historic campus of Our Lady of the Lake University, prompting more than half of the city's firefighters into action.

Firefighters were called at 7:44 p.m. to the university campus on the city's west side at 411 SW 24th Street. Multiple alarms were dispatched shortly after the initial response team arrived, SAFD Chief Charles Hood said.

The fire started on the fourth floor of the Old Main building on the campus, Hood said. More than 120 firefighters encompassing more than 30 units were at the scene, Hood said.
There were no reports of any injuries and officials at the university evacuated the building, including two dormitories, completely. said university officials. One of the spires at the building collapsed.

The second and third floor of the building comprise computer labs and the fourth floor is occupied by the psychology department, according to various sources.

Two dormitories were evacuated and students in those dorms were not allowed to return, according to university officials. Food and shelter accomodations were made for students who were forced to leave their rooms, according to university President Tessa Martinez Pollack.

Hood said a significant amount of financial damage took place, but he did not have a specific number. Hood said high winds were to blame for spreading the fire.

University officials canceled Wednesday morning classes about 1 a.m., according to a notice on the university's Web site.

A bomb threat was called in to the university Monday afternoon, prompting a brief evacuation of the campus. No devices were found on campus during Monday's investigation and there was no evidence Tuesday evening that the two events were linked.

The Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence founded the university in 1895, according to the school's history on its Web site. The school has offered classes since 1911, initially only for women.