The Tulane University Office of Preparedness and Response sent out an emergency alert on Friday afternoon warning of an active fire in the Collins C. Diboll Garage complex on Tulane’s Uptown campus.
The New Orleans Fire Department received the call at 12:41 p.m., according to officials on the scene. It is unclear what started the fire, but officials said five or six vehicles were damaged.
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Firefighters work an active scene at the Diboll parking garage
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Firefighters work at the Diboll Parking Garage
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Students pass as a fire burns in the Diboll parking garage
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Smoke rises from the Diboll parking garage.
Several nearby sources reported hearing explosions near the parking garage.
Diboll parking garage holds mostly cars of students, faculty and staff.
NOFD extinguished the fire at around 1:10 p.m.
UPDATE at 2:11 p.m.: According to officials on the scene, NOFD is waiting for engineers to arrive to inspect the scene before Diboll can be reopened to the public. Officials said that it could take up to three hours for an engineer to arrive.
UPDATE on Feb. 7, 11:22 a.m.: Tulane officials are asking permit holders to remove their vehicles from the Diboll parking garage. Permit holders may park in any space on the uptown campus, excluding Diboll, reserved or ADA spaces. Diboll parking garage is closed indefinitely.
This is a developing story and may be updated.