A fire broke out late Wednesday morning underneath a layer of floor insulation at the Stony Brook Arena, which is currently undergoing a $21 million renovation at the Indoor Sports Complex.
No injuries were reported in the fire, the cause of which is currently unclear according to officials on scene. The fire was reported at approximately 11:30 a.m. and had not yet been fully extinguished as of 12:30 p.m.
According to Larry Hall, public information officer for the Setauket Fire Department, the fire started within four feet of Styrofoam insulation as a construction crew was getting ready to pour concrete on top of it.
The crew called emergency services, and the Setauket Fire Department, Stony Brook Fire Department, Centereach Fire Department, Terryville Fire Department, and St. James Ambulance were all called to the scene.
"It was a very dangerous situation. Walking on Styrofoam with heat, there's a chance you could fall through," Hall said. "They didn't know what they were walking into."
Hall said a temporary wall had to be knocked down to get a better angle for the firefighters to bring in the attack lines.
Stony Brook University police chief Larry Zacarese said there was no danger to any students or staff members, as the part of the building involved in the fire was largely unoccupied. University officials sent out a campus-wide alert via email and text to caution students against approaching the area.
Zacarese also said the university police and fire marshals arrived on the scene within a minute.
"The time of response was excellent," he said, "which will ultimately limit the amount of damage caused."
Check back with Three Village Patch as more information becomes available.
