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Fire erupts at University of Arkansas’ off campus agricultural farm

By: Khadn Adderley

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — The Fayetteville Fire Department was dispatched to the University of Arkansas’ North Campus to tend to a fire that broke out Tuesday night at the North Campus Agricultural Farm.

The Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center is located at 1018 W Strange Drive, on the east side of Garland Avenue.

According to the University of Arkansas’ Police Department Captain Gary Crane, responders arrived on scene at 11:21 p.m. to discover the machinery shed engulfed in flames. 

“In our initial survey this morning, it appears we not only lost the shed, but also two plot combines, one full-sized combine and two planters,” said Mark Cochran, vice president of agriculture for the University of Arkansas System. “We also lost some smaller, more specialized research equipment and supplies.”

AFTERMATH — Remains of the South Shed at the Milo J. Shult Research and Extension Center after an overnight fire that started late on Jan. 19, 2021. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image by Matt Rainwaters)

Firefighters had the fire under control shortly after midnight Wednesday morning, however, they did not leave the scene of the fire until after 3:00 a.m.

A preliminary estimate puts the value of the damage at more than $1 million.

The initial cause of the fire is still under investigation and there are no reported injuries.