AMHERST, Mass. – Clean-up operations are underway in the south wing of the Life Sciences Laboratories at UMass Amherst following a small fire Friday morning in a fourth floor lab. No injuries occurred and the building located at 240 Thatcher Road was safely evacuated.

Two students were conducting an experiment when the fire started shortly before noon. The building’s water sprinklers automatically activated to douse the fire. The Amherst Fire Department responded promptly, assessed the situation and extinguished a few remaining spots of concern. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The north wing of the building remains open. The south wing is temporarily closed as university and public safety officials conduct a damage assessment. Due to activation of sprinklers, substantial water cleanup is required.