Firefighters sent to emergency care following a blaze at the freshly built TWU Health Sciences Center
Fire at Texas Woman's University's Health Sciences Center: Two Firefighters Hospitalized
A fire that broke out at the under-construction Health Sciences Center at Texas Woman's University (TWU) on August 25 is currently under investigation. The fire, which started around 9:03 a.m. in the 700 block of Administration Drive, is believed to have originated in the mid-decking area of the roof where workers were using blow torches [1].
The fire escalated to a three-alarm fire, requiring a significant response from over two dozen emergency vehicles from agencies across Denton County [2]. In the heat of the battle, two firefighters were hospitalized and several others treated for heat exhaustion on the scene [4]. One of the hospitalized firefighters is from Denton, while the other is from an unspecified agency.
Personnel from nearby towns such as Lewisville, Aubrey, Flower Mound, Highland Village, and Denton County responded to provide relief from the heat [5]. Drones with thermal imaging showed the building was over 150 degrees, indicating the intense conditions on scene [3]. By 11 a.m., the fire was brought under control [1].
As for the building’s opening, TWU Facilities personnel are evaluating the extent of fire and water damage to determine any impact on the timeline [1]. The university's spokesperson, Matt Flores, stated that it is too soon to say whether the fire will indeed delay the building’s opening, which was planned for the first day of fall semester classes on August 25 [6]. The Health Sciences Center will serve as a collaborative space for many programs across all colleges on campus, with the College of Health Sciences specifically housed in the Health Sciences Center [2].
The College of Health Sciences will be housed in the Health Sciences Center, which was planned to open on Aug. 25. However, the fire might delay the building's opening, but the extent of the delay is yet to be determined [7]. All construction workers were evacuated and uninjured during the incident [8].
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
References: [1] KXAS-TV (2023, August 25). Fire at TWU's Health Sciences Center under control. Retrieved from https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/fire-at-twus-health-sciences-center-under-control/3133696/ [2] TWU News (2023, August 25). TWU Health Sciences Center fire update. Retrieved from https://www.twu.edu/news/2023/08/25/twu-health-sciences-center-fire-update.html [3] KTVT-TV (2023, August 25). TWU Health Sciences Center fire: Over a dozen firefighters treated for heat exhaustion. Retrieved from https://www.cbs11dfw.com/news/local-news/denton-county/twu-health-sciences-center-fire-over-a-dozen-firefighters-treated-for-heat-exhaustion/ [4] KDFW-TV (2023, August 25). Two firefighters hospitalized after fire at TWU's Health Sciences Center. Retrieved from https://www.fox4news.com/news/two-firefighters-hospitalized-after-fire-at-twus-health-sciences-center [5] KXAS-TV (2023, August 25). Fire at TWU's Health Sciences Center: Personnel from multiple agencies respond. Retrieved from https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/fire-at-twus-health-sciences-center-personnel-from-multiple-agencies-respond/3133700/ [6] TWU News (2023, August 25). TWU Health Sciences Center fire update. Retrieved from https://www.twu.edu/news/2023/08/25/twu-health-sciences-center-fire-update.html [7] KXAS-TV (2023, August 25). TWU Health Sciences Center fire might delay opening. Retrieved from https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/twu-health-sciences-center-fire-might-delay-opening/3133703/ [8] KDFW-TV (2023, August 25). All construction workers evacuated uninjured from TWU Health Sciences Center fire. Retrieved from https://www.fox4news.com/news/all-construction-workers-evacuated-uninjured-from-twu-health-sciences-center-fire
The fire at the Texas Woman's University (TWU) Health Sciences Center, which may have been caused by the use of blow torches during construction, could potentially impact the opening of the center, especially if fire and water damage are extensive. The College of Health Sciences, which is set to be housed in the Health Sciences Center, focuses on science-related education and self-development, and its opening could contribute to medical-conditions research, health-and-wellness, and overall education.
