Fire on roof of new Rutgers academic building extinguished

Construction debris caught fire on the metal and concrete roof

NEW BRUNSWICK -- A fire at a building under construction on Rutgers University's College Avenue Campus in New Brunswick has been extinguished.

The fire began when a roofer finishing the flat roof on the new Rutgers academic building ignited some construction debris, said Christopher Paladino, president of the New Brunswick Development Corporation, or DEVCO, which is overseeing the construction.

"The roof was metal and concrete. No apparent structural damage," said Paladino, who was on the scene inspecting the damage.

There were no injuries and fire inspectors are allowing construction to continue on the building, Paladino said.

Officials responded Friday to a fire on the roof of the new Rutgers academic building under construction in New Brunswick.Craig McCarthy/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Three ladder trucks and two EMS vehicles were on scene as well as police officers keeping foot traffic away from the area.

The New Brunswick fire department will investigate how the fire began, Rutgers spokesman E.J. Miranda said.

The 200,000-square-foot Rutgers academic building between Seminary Place and Bishop Place  will have classroom space for 2,500 studentswhen it opens this summer.

Workers broke ground on the building in September 2013 as part of a $330 million project that has transformed the university's College Avenue Campus.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Craig McCarthy contributed to this report.