Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--An investigation continues to determine the cause of a Wednesday night [Oct. 11] fire that significantly damaged the basement of Dorman Hall at Mississippi State.
Offices, classrooms and laboratories in the five-story building are being closed through--at least--the weekend while university, local and state officials assess the damage, which was confined to the basement area.
The red-brick structure at the corner of Creelman Street and Stone Boulevard houses the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, and plant and soil sciences.
"Our primary focus at this point is to ensure the safety of faculty, staff and students while continuing to gather details about the fire and related smoke damage," said Bill Kibler, MSU vice president for student affairs.
The 40-year-old facility houses offices for approximately 200 faculty members and graduate and post-doctoral students. In addition, Dorman classrooms accommodate approximately 1,000 students daily.
Classes scheduled to meet in Dorman Friday (and probably next week) will be relocated. Updated information on that and the building's accessibility will be posted on the university's Web site, www.msstate.edu, as soon as possible.
Jim Jones, executive director of campus facilities, said Starkville and campus emergency personnel responded at approximately
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Kibler at 662-325-3045 or Dean of Students Mike White at 325-3611.