Hargis Hall by Toomer's Corner caught fire Thursday at about 6 p.m. There were no injuries to University staff, students or firefighters.
"There's a little fire damage and some water damage to some of the offices," said Robert Hodge, battalion chief of C-shift with the Auburn Fire Department. "There's fire damage to the steeple and water damage to the second floor offices."
Hodge said an investigation to determine the cause of the fire is underway before the building is turned back to the University.
"A sprinkler system in the building activated and pretty much held it in check," Hodge said. "When we got here there wasn't a lot of fire left."
About eight firefighters initially entered the building to put out what remained of the fire, Hodge said.
"There may be a little structural damage to the steeple, but nothing that would cause a collapse," Hodge said, "just some charred wood."
Lucy Littleton, 16, was near Toomer's Corner with a couple friends when she heard sirens and alarms.
"We looked over and we saw flames inside the window," Littleton said. "The fire trucks got here and they started pulling the hoses out, then the glass busted open and fell out. It didn't last very long."
Lauren Carter, freshman in elementary education, was walking across Samford lawn when she started to smell smoke.
"We saw the fire trucks and there was smoke coming out" of the steeple, Carter said. She said she didn't see anyone other than fire fighters entering or leaving the building.
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