Captured by San Antonio Filmmaker Xavier Ramirez, edited by Producer Ernest Garcia.
4-Alarm Fire Destroys Part Of Our Lady of the Lake University
Reported by: Erik Runge
Email: ErikRunge@woai.com
Last Update: 6:40 am
Our Lady of the Lake caught fire around 7:30 p.m. (News 4)
Related Story: Local University Evacuated Due To Bomb Threat
OLLU Website
SanAntonioFire.org
A 4-alarm fire destroyed a large section of a historic building at Our Lady of the Lake University Tuesday evening.
The fire started around 7:30 p.m. in the Main Building located in the 400 block of S.W. 24th Street. Thirty-eight fire units were dispatched to the scene, and more than 100 firefighters battled the flames.
The fire is believed to have started on the fourth floor of the building. The building was evacuated, but some people had to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters went room-to-room to make sure everyone was evacuated. A San Antonio Fire department spokesperson said all of the students were accounted for and that accommodations were being made for the students who were displaced by the fire. A university spokesperson said all of the sisters at the university had also been evacuated and were safe.
Students and staff gathered across the street from the school. Many were in tears as they watched the flames.
"This is definitely going to be a loss to the city of San Antonio," said Chief Randy Jenkins.
A woman who was inside the building when the fire started told News 4 she did not smell any smoke prior to the evacuation. The woman said no one thought it was anything serious until they got outside and "saw the flames shoot up from nowhere."
The Red Cross dispatched crews to the university to help the firefighters, and plans to send a disaster relief team to the scene. Also, District 5 Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan is making an offer for the district to put displaced students into local hotels for the night. She told News 4 she was awaiting the go-ahead from the President of the university to put that plan into motion.
San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood said it was stubborn fire and that strong winds fueled the flames.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the Main Building, but the fire consumed the fourth floor of the building. The flames flared up again around 10:30 p.m., but firefighters brought the fire back under control shortly after 11 p.m.
An arson unit was called to the scene. It's unknown if the fire has anything to do with a bomb threat that was called in to the University on Monday (See Related Links).
Students say there has been false fire alarms for weeks. A bomb threat was discovered in a bathroom on Monday and led to an evacuation, but nothing was found. A trash can fire also was reported earlier in a building across the street from the one that burned. It was quickly doused.
The building houses human resources, cashier services, the sociology department and campus ministry.
OLLU History
The university was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, a religious order begun in 18th century Lorraine, France. Construction on the main campus began in 1895 and classes started in 1896.
Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation.
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Rayers 3 weeks ago
you might not consider it tragedy because your not a student there or because you dont know the history of the school! i dont mean just a little bit i mean the whole history than you'll see why and especially how it was inside it sux that we lost all the pretty things we had!
cyst12 3 years ago
i wouldnt consider this tragedy..no one died..the school is still up..how is it tragic
EAWitness 3 years ago
this is my school i was so freak out when it happend.
Julie200710 3 years ago
It is a University here in Sna Antonio TX
rattlergrl 3 years ago
wat is our lady of teh lake?>
chidori66 3 years ago
↓↓↓i meant to say untouched↓↓↓
DaNaFoO3210 3 years ago
this is tragic indeed but the most amazing thing is that although the whole part of the university was burned..the virgin mary statue remained untough..not at all burned..there was a picture in the newspaper that showed a white orb surrounding the statue..amazing huh?
DaNaFoO3210 3 years ago
I feel so bad about this happening. I was going to attend OLLU but I was in an accident so I was unable to afford going there for college. It's such a beautiful place.
shatteredfairy16 3 years ago
what happen to that/
Ashleykonstarr 3 years ago