The Hawk

Issue date: 11/17/06 Section: News

Firefighters were on hand to contain the hazardous fumes and evacuate the building.

A chemical mishap in McShain Hall prompted the evacuation of the building and the arrival of several emergency response teams last Tuesday.

Approximately 100 students were evacuated from the residence hall. No injuries were reported among the students.

"We're talking about a very small amount of chemicals here," said Joe Lunardi, Saint Joseph's Assistant Vice President for University Communication.

The incident was the result of a janitorial mistake. An Aramark employee, cleaning up after an event in Haub Center on the 5th Floor of McShain, accidentally mixed together the cleaning solutions Bleach and Lime-Away, creating hazardous fumes.

According to Lunardi, the worker began to feel nauseated and reported the incident to his superiors. The fire alarm was then sounded and the dorm was evacuated. The Bala Cynwyd-Lower Merion Fire Department, along with the Montgomery County and Lincoln hazardous materials teams, arrived at McShain shortly thereafter.

The fire department conducted a room-to-room investigation, and isolated the airflow to the fifth floor so that the fumes could be contained, said Bala Cynwyd-Lower Merion Fire Chief Chas McGarvey.

Students were evacuated and organized in the McShain parking lot, in accordance with the building's fire plan. Students were admitted back into the dorm shortly after 10 p.m.

The Aramark worker, who was the only individual reported to be injured, was treated and released at a local hospital.

Among the firefighters who responded to the call were three St. Joe's students who work as volunteer firefighters. Alex Ziegler, '09, Tom Ruane, '09, and Whitney Chestnut, '09, were able to use their knowledge of McShain's layout to assist in the effort.

Several news outlets, including 6ABC, sent news reporters to cover the incident. The chemical scare marks the latest in a string of traumatic events involving St. Joe's.

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