Fire at Santa Rosa Junior College causes $500,000 in damage

A fire early this morning burned a building that contains heating and cooling systems for a swim center at Santa Rosa Junior College, a Santa Rosa Fire Department battalion chief said.

The fire in a one-story building attached to the Quinn Swim Center off Bear Cub Way on the SRJC campus was reported at 2:13 a.m., according to Battalion Chief Mark Basque.

Firefighters who arrived six minutes later saw heavy smoke in the rear of the building, which is attached to the swim center and houses a cogeneration system and provides electricity to the heating and cooling systems of the swim center, Maggini Hall and an administration building, Basque said.

The fire, which was fueled by the contents of the building and a natural gas line, was controlled within 30 minutes. The fire destroyed the majority of the equipment in the building but was kept out of the pool and locker room areas of the swim center, Basque said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation and damage is estimated to be $500,000 or more, according to Basque.

Maggini Hall houses offices for business administration and technology and health occupations. The Quinn Swim Center contains two pools and offices for the physical education staff.