Pullman Firefighters Respond to Lab Fire at WSU

Crews battle blaze at Washington State University campus building

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:53am

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Firefighters in Pullman, Washington responded to a laboratory fire on the campus of Washington State University on Thursday after an automatic fire alarm was triggered. Crews discovered smoke inside the building and confirmed an active fire, prompting an immediate upgrade in response. Firefighters established standpipe operations, advanced hose lines, and located the source of the fire, bringing the situation under control.

Why it matters

Fires in laboratory settings can be especially complex due to the potential presence of hazardous materials, specialized equipment, and multi-story building layouts, which can increase risks to both occupants and responders. This incident highlights the challenges that fire departments face in adequately staffing emergency responses to meet national standards.

The details

According to Pullman Fire, two units with four firefighters were initially dispatched to the scene. Additional personnel were called in, including the remaining on-duty firefighters, a fire chief and fire marshal, and off-duty staff asked to return to their stations. Firefighters on scene established standpipe operations, advanced hose lines and located the source of the fire, bringing the situation under control.

  • The fire was reported on Thursday, March 27, 2026.

The players

Pullman Fire

The fire department that responded to the incident at Washington State University.

Washington State University

The university where the laboratory fire occurred.

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What’s next

The fire department will investigate the cause of the fire and assess any damage to the laboratory.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges that fire departments face in responding to complex emergencies, particularly in laboratory settings where specialized equipment and hazardous materials may be present. It also underscores the importance of adequate staffing and resources to meet national response standards.