MARCH 13, 2015
North Dakota State
University was evacuated Friday morning after a chemical spill.
At about 8:45 a.m., a researcher and student accidentally
broke a glass bottle containing ethylenediamine, a chemical that can be harmful
to the skin and lungs, said Craig Nelson, battalion chief with the Fargo Fire
Department.
Everyone made it out of the Research I building safely, and
no one was injured, the department’s release said.
Firefighters responded about 20 minutes after the spill with
18 people in seven vehicles. They assisted university police in evacuating the
building and removing the spilled chemical.
At first, “we didn't know what specifically it was,” because
the researchers left when they saw it start to vaporize, Nelson said. “They
shut the door and got out real fast, which is what they're supposed to do.”
Through air monitoring, the fire department was able to
narrow down the possibilities, he said.
After evacuation, they turned on the building’s ventilation
to send vapors outside, where they could dissipate. They then sent a two people
wearing Level B hazmat suits and self-contained breathing apparatuses into the
lab, where a floor-dry material was used to absorb the liquid chemical.
The process took about two hours, including time for the air
to return to safe levels, Nelson said.
The building has since returned to normal operations.