Fire damages UO building

Published 3:23 pm Thursday, July 1, 2010

EUGENE – A fire at a University of Oregon building that houses the university’s School of Music and Dance has caused an estimated $500,000 in damage.

Eugene Fire Department spokesman Glen Potter says the Tuesday night blaze caused heavy smoke damage inside Gerlinger Annex. No one was injured.

KVAL-TV says the fire apparently started after someone accidentally left on a stove burner in a break room on the building’s third floor.

University spokesman Phil Weiler says investigators don’t know who left the burner on. The building is closed indefinitely because firefighters are concerned about asbestos and high carbon dioxide levels.

There are no classes scheduled in the building during the summer.

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