LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - A fire has damaged another building on the UW-La Crosse campus.
Firefighters were called around 10:45 p.m. Saturday to Wittich Hall.
La Crosse Fire Department Capt. Todd Adams says the blaze was contained to a basement storage room and put out in less than 30 minutes. Smoke damage spread throughout the building. Firefighters say all doors to the building appeared to be locked at the time and no one was inside. He says preliminary reports indicate it was an electrical fire.
One firefighter was injured. Adams says he was treated and released.
According to Vice Chancellor Bob Hetzel says it will remain closed until the damage is assessed.
Built in 1916, Wittich Hall is the original physical education building on campus. It's listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It houses some departmental offices, the Center for Disability Health and Adaptive Physical Activity, and the women's gymnastics program.
This is the second fire to damage a building on the UW-L campus in 2012. On January 29, a fire in a basement lounge caused extensive damage to Drake Hall. All the residents in the hall were forced to move out for the remainder of the year due to the damage.
Capt. Adams says so far there is no connection between the two incidents.
"I spoke with an investigator this morning and he said it started in some kind of strip outlet," said Capt. Adams. "There is further investigation to find out the exact cause of it. There's no connection made yet and I don't know if there will be further investigation that goes on with that or not."
