Mississippi State head baseball coach Ron Polk’s office received minor damage in a fire Tuesday.
“We had a small office fire on the second floor,” coliseum director Todd Hunt said.
An MSU Police report stated the fire started in a trash can in Polk’s office and was contained to that room. The report was filed at 1:38 p.m. Tuesday. The building was evacuated until the fire was located on the second floor.
“We have a full fire alarm system that covers the entire building,” Hunt said. “Once the alarm sounds, it’s the signal for everyone to evacuate the building.”
Police assisted with traffic until the Starkville Fire Department arrived on the scene.
The fire caused little damage, destroying only the trashcan and part of the room’s carpet, Hunt said. The carpet is being replaced.
“The damage was all contained to Coach Polk’s office. In the grand scheme of things it’s all very minor,” Hunt said.
Hunt confirmed that Polk was out of town at the time of the incident. “My understanding is that he was in town and then left for a meeting,” Hunt said.
The Starkville Fire Department had not released a report at the time of publication.
Under the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code, the Mississippi fire marshal is given authority to investigate fires that occur on state properties and places used for public assembly.