The situation has resolved, and there will be no more updates from this point forward.
Ohio University Maintenance, City of Athens Fire Department, The Plains Fire Department and Richland Area Fire Department responded to a report of smoke in locker rooms at Bird Ice Arena on Ohio University’s campus around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
"The source of smoke appeared to be from a furnace due to a cracked heat exchanger,“ APD Chief Robert Rymer said in an email. "The furnace was taken out of service, and smoke cleared from the structure."
University Spokesperson Dan Pittman said the university is unaware of any reported injuries.
The Post received a tip at 10:11 p.m. that the Bird Ice Arena was on fire. The Post representatives arrived on scene shortly after to find Athens and Richland Fire Departments responding to the call.
The Ohio University Police Department were also present at the scene, along with ambulances.
"We remain deeply appreciative of the dedication and response of both the Athens Fire Department and all of our local first responders who work tirelessly to help keep our community safe,“ Pittman said in an email.
Classes taking place at the arena were canceled for Wednesday, according to a Fundamentals of Ice Skating class cancellation email forwarded to The Post at 10:08 p.m.
According to the email, the incident “shouldn’t affect class on Friday or the long-term functionality of the rink.” However, this still has not been confirmed by university officials.
In 2024, Bird Ice Arena closed for unexpected repairs, according to a previous report by The Post. This closure lasted until January 2025, affecting the DI and DII hockey teams’ schedules and several student organizations reliant on the space.
