Iowa City Fire Department responds to fire at Spence Labs

At approximately 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23, the UI Department of Public Safety received a call that a plastic bag being stored in a freezer was emitting smoke in Spence Labs, 352 Iowa Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240. Dispatch directed the caller to activate the pull station.

UI Police arrived on scene at 3:26 p.m. at which point they consulted with UI Environmental Health and Safety and the Iowa City Fire Department, who extinguished the small fire. Though the cause of the fire remains under investigation, it is believed that the freezer containing the bag was not completely shut, causing a light inside of it to remain on and overheat, igniting the bag.

HAWK ALERT: The fire incident at Spence Labs has been resolved, resume normal activities see e.uiowa.edu for further information.

First responders on scene please continue to avoid the area.