Russellville Fire Marshal Richard Setian reported at 6:25 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, that a fire at Arkansas Tech University’s Williamson Hall was under control and no injuries were reported.
Williamson Hall is a classroom building at ATU. It has regularly housed the Department of Parks, Recreation and Hospitality Administration in recent years, but the facility has been unoccupied during the 2018-19 academic year due to ongoing renovations.
Chief Joshua McMillian of the Arkansas Tech University Department of Public Safety reported that an appropriate perimeter was established at the outset of the incident at approximately 4:30 p.m. and that there was no threat to life associated with the fire for the general public.
The fire did not pose a threat to other structures on campus.
Opened in March 1940, Williamson Hall was constructed by the National Youth Administration to serve as its state headquarters. Once the facility was no longer needed by the NYA, it reverted to the possession of Arkansas Tech.
The structure is named for Marvin Williamson, who served as the initial director of bands at the institution from 1913-50.
Any additional updates from Arkansas Tech will be processed through ATU social media (Facebook and Twitter) as well as www.arkansastechnews.com.
The Russellville Fire Department will have a full report on the incident in the days to come.
