An early-morning fire Thursday destroyed the Seattle campus offices of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Educational Outreach. The fire was reported to the Seattle Fire Department at about 6:10 a.m. Thursday, quickly escalating to a three-alarm blaze. The fire did not spread to any other buildings.
The fire has halted registration, counseling and support services at the main ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO offices. The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO website and registration phone lines are also off-line, as are ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO online courses. Until the damage can be assessed, officials don’t know if grades, applications or other administrative services will be affected. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO staff are currently looking for temporary office space and a registration system.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø 100 people work at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO main offices, with other employees at the King Building to the south. Operations at the King Building have not been affected.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Educational Outreach is the division of the university that administers continuing education, distance learning, summer quarter, English language programs and other programs for non-traditional students. It handles about 34,000 registrations a year.
Despite this devastating setback, the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO staff still plan to meet Friday afternoon, 3:30 p.m. at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Faculty Club on the Seattle Campus for a holiday celebration and to offer each other support.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO offices are closed today but will open tomorrow — for in-person registration at the King Building, or by phone at 206-543-2310. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO students should check the main ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø website (www.washington.edu) for updates on their classes and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøEO services.
For more information (MEDIA ONLY), contact Roberto S?hez, manager of public relations, at 206-685-6344