TALLAHASSEE — A fire in the R.A. Gray Building downtown prompted an evacuation Thursday afternoon, disrupted operations for state cultural and election offices and sent smoke through multiple floors, according to the Tallahassee Fire Department.
What changed for residents
Residents and visitors near the Capitol Square experienced a significant emergency response after Tallahassee Fire Department (TFD) crews were dispatched to reports of an active blaze at about 3:45 p.m.. The building was cleared and the department worked to control flames and remove smoke, TFD said.
Officials said there were no reported injuries and staff who had been evacuated returned later in the evening to retrieve belongings. The R.A. Gray complex houses several state entities that Tallahassee residents use or visit: the Florida History Museum, the State Library of Florida, the Florida State Archives and the state elections office.
"There have been no injuries reported,"
Scope and timeline
TFD reported that crews contained the fire and began ventilating smoke from four separate floors of the building. The department said employees who were evacuated were allowed back in at about 6:30 p.m. to collect personal items. According to TFD, the fire originated in an exterior construction area and extended into wall cavities between the building's second and third floors. The cause remains under investigation.
- Reported active fire: ~3:45 p.m.
- Floors affected by smoke removal: 4
- Employees allowed back inside: ~6:30 p.m.
- Injuries: none reported
- Reported damage to artifacts: none reported
What officials are monitoring
State and local agencies will likely coordinate follow-up inspections to assess structural integrity, interior damage and the condition of collections or records. The building's occupants include repositories of government records and cultural artifacts; preserving those materials is a priority for state archivists and museum staff. TFD did not identify any specific loss of artifacts but said there have been no reports of damage to collections.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Building | R.A. Gray Building (downtown Tallahassee) |
| Houses | Florida History Museum; State Library of Florida; Florida State Archives; state elections office |
| Fire origin | Exterior construction area, extended into walls between 2nd and 3rd floors |
| Reported injuries | None |
| Employees reentry | About 6:30 p.m. Thursday |
At this stage, investigators have not announced a cause. Officials did not confirm whether the fire affected operations at the state elections office or whether any voter records were impacted. City and state staff will need to inspect the areas affected by smoke and interior fire spread before services resume normally.
For residents who rely on services provided in the R.A. Gray Building, expect follow-up notices from the agencies involved about any closures, schedule changes or records access limitations while assessments and repairs proceed.
News Block will follow updates from the Tallahassee Fire Department, the Florida History Museum and other state agencies and provide more information as it becomes available.
