LEXINGTON — A two-alarm fire at the University of Kentucky's Administration Building virtually destroyed the major landmark that sits at the epicenter of the city where the school is the largest employer.

        The building, built in 1880, housed the office of the university president and other administrative offices, including the Athletics Association office.

        President Charles Wethington was inside the building when the fire was reported about 4 p.m., but he and the other 50 people inside were able to get out without injury.

        One person, a worker who was soldering on the building's roof as part of an ongoing $1.3 million renovation, received first-degree burns.

        The fire appeared to have started at the site of the renovation work, fire officials said.

        Hundreds of people, some tearful, gathered outside the building as it burned. High winds fueled the flames and created what one firefighter on the scene termed “a chimney effect.”

        A visibly shaken Mr. Wethington, who is about to retire, said the two-story brick building that contained his office, historic portraits of all UK presidents and the university's original boardroom and classrooms, “can't really be replaced.”

        “How devastating,” said Susan Mustian, of Boone County, a 1984 UK graduate who is vice president of the Northern Kentucky UK Alumni club. “We just saw President Wethington last week here at the Northern Kentucky club for a farewell reception.”

        Incoming UK President Lee Todd is now without the president's usual office space. Mr. Todd though, had had an interim office in the UK Alumni House set up and rewired for high-speed data, so he could begin work at the university early, Mrs. Mustian said.

        The Administration Building is across the street from a fire station, and firefighters were on the scene within a couple of minutes. Firefighters on ladders battled the flames that shot through the roof as glowing embers fell in flower beds around neighboring buildings and a crowd of dozens, including some students, looked on. Graduation at the university was May 6.

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