Spontaneous-Combustion Fire Causes $60K In Damage At Arizona’s McKale Center

Arizona Daily Star, Carmen Duarte

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/mckale-fire-causes-k-in-damage/article_4619a66e-2708-11e2-aa5b-001a4bcf887a.html

A fire in an equipment room at McKale Center Saturday night was caused by spontaneous combustion of a pile of cleaning rags, according to Capt. Barrett Baker of the Tucson Fire Department.

The fire spread to shelving units in the equipment room, Baker said. Smoke and water damage was estimated at $60,000.

However, the cost of additional damage to equipment and other University of Arizona athletic property has not been determined, said UA Athletic Director Greg Byrne.

The equipment room stored supplies for several sports programs, Byrne said.

In addition to sports equipment, the room contained uniforms, shoes and workout clothes.

“We are compiling what has been affected, and right now we don’t know what the damage will be,” Byrne said.

A smoke alarm went off inside the building at 9:25 p.m. Firefighters arrived minutes later and saw smoke coming from the roof, Baker said.

The fire was extinguished quickly, but it filled the center with thick smoke.

Firefighters remained at McKale for about two hours after the fire was put out working to clear out the smoke with high-powered fans, Baker said.