The building where a fire broke out Tuesday at the University of Mary has been closed for the remainder of the fall semester.

University spokesman Tom Ackerman said the school's registrar is working with professors to find places to hold classes formerly held in the Harold J. Miller Science Center.

"We're making use of every room we've got," he said, adding that some classes may even be held outdoors in the coming days.

State Fire Marshal Raymond Lambert said the fire, which was reported around 1:35 p.m. Tuesday, started in the lighting system of the elevator shaft in the science center. The fire has been ruled accidental, he said.

"It made a mess," he said.

The fire caused the evacuation of four buildings, and six people had to be rescued by ladder from a third floor classroom.

Many people reported not hearing alarms going off in the science center when the fire broke out, but Lambert said fire officials spoke to several individuals who did hear alarms. Ackerman said both accounts are correct: some alarms in the building went off, but others did not sound.

The building's clean up and renovation will include "considerable fire and safety upgrades," Ackerman said.

"The fire alarm situation is currently under review," he said. "Safety is our utmost concern."

The building does not have a sprinkler system, because such systems were not required when the building was constructed, Ackerman said. The Harold J. Miller Science Center was one of the campus's original buildings and was constructed in the 1960s. Ackerman said a sprinkler system likely would not have helped in Tuesday's fire even if one had been in place.

He said he did not know how many other buildings on the campus do not have sprinkler systems.

Lambert said the state fire marshal does not do inspections at U-Mary, because the institution is considered a private business. Bismarck Rural Fire Chief Al Klein said his department does not perform inspections. Ray Ziegler, Bismarck and Burleigh County building official, said his department would only inspect the university's buildings if new buildings were being built or major renovations or remodeling projects are being completed.

"I know of no one doing inspections at the University of Mary," Lambert said.

He said it is possible that insurance companies do routine maintenance inspections of buildings that are not required to be inspected by state or local agencies. Ackerman said he did not know if the university buildings are inspected routinely and said he would be checking into the subject.

He said the university looks over its policies on a monthly basis, and the fire likely will be considered as a topic of conversation in the review process.

"It would be wrong for us not to assess the pros and cons of what happened yesterday," he said Wednesday.

Howard and Chad Leier, owners of Arrow Service Team of Professionals, said their company began cleaning up the university buildings Wednesday morning. Chad Leier said they did air treatment Tuesday night.

Howard Leier said Chick's Place, a cafe named for Chuck Swenson who donated the land for the campus, and the Fitness Center had light smoke damage. Ackerman said in a release that those areas of campus have already reopened.

The Leiers said their priority now is to reopen the University Hall cafeteria by Monday. Chad Leier said the smoke damage to the cafeteria was "medium."

"You can take your finger and write your name on the tables," he said.

Howard Leier said the next step will be to clean up Arno Gustin Hall, a large lecturing hall, and the Clairmont Center by the end of next week. Then, the heavily damaged science center will be next.

"That's going to take a little more time," Howard Leier said.

He said the building has heavy smoke and heat damage, and the damage is worst in the elevator shaft.

"A whole new elevator needs to be put in there," Howard Leier said.

Chad Leier said the university's buildings present a challenge to the cleaners because of the cement and block construction.

"It's kind of a different construction from most buildings in town,"he said.

The company has 17 people working on the cleanup, but that may not be enough, Howard Leier said.

"We may bring in some other cleaning companies to assist us," he said.

Ackerman said some rooms in the science center may be opened during the semester, but it depends on the clean up process.

"We're really pleased with the cleanup,"Ackerman said. "It's going fast and it's going well."

Howard Leier said he has not had time to put together a dollar amount on damages caused by the fire as he and his crew has been working on reopening parts of the campus to students. Ackerman also said he does not have damage estimates.

The fire has interrupted some of the university's homecoming events, but Ackerman said a "great spirit of community and faith"remains on the campus.

The school's Hall of Fame banquet was scheduled to be held Friday in the University Hall cafeteria, but it has been moved to the Court Room at the Ramkota Hotel on South Third Street, Ackerman said. He said the homecoming coronation scheduled for today has been moved from Arno Gustin Hall to the McDowell Activity Center.

Ackerman said students are asked to continue checking www.umary.edu and their U-Mary e-mail for classroom and event updates.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)