Fire Breaks Out At Historic Structure On UConn Campus

STORRS, CT — Flames engulfed one of the oldest buildings on the University of Connecticut's campus as a raging fire broke out Friday morning.

The fire broke out at 6:20 a.m. at the circa 1800 Whitney House, which sits on Route 195 in Storrs in front of Mirror Lake. Initially, UConn officials thought it was the oldest university building, but then revised the estimation to "one of the oldest."

No injuries have been reported, UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said.

UConn Public Safety crews arrived at the Whitney House quickly, and the house was almost fully engulfed in flames at one point, Reitz said. Several area fire crews were also called to the scene.

Damage is extensive, she added.

The fire was under control as of 8 a.m., Crews were busy all morning locating and knocking down "hot spots" in the house, mostly small fires within the walls and other parts of the building, Reitz said.

Fencing is being erected around the house, and it will be boarded as a safety precaution while the investigation is under way, Reitz said.

The Whitney House, the onetime home of the Whitney family, dates to around 1800 and was once the home of Edwina Whitney, an early librarian and instructor when the institution was the Connecticut Agricultural College.

It has been used for many purposes in the time that UConn has owned it, including as the International House in the 1960s, home of the Rainbow Center in the 1990s and early 2000s. It was not in use at the time of the fire, but was being regularly maintained.

The University's class and work schedules were not affected.