Chemical Leak, Burning Smell Prompt Evacuations at UCSB

Campus Police Say Incidents Are Under Control

Santa Barbara County and City Fire responded to UCSB's Biological Sciences building 2

County fire crews and members of the UCSB Police Department arrived around 11:30 a.m. today at the campus’s Bio 2 building after receiving reports of a possible ruptured gas line. Upon arriving at the scene, investigators determined that there was no gas leak. Instead, a delivery of toluene had been made to someone in the building, a substance noted for its paint thinner-like smell. The building was evacuated and remained evacuated until 1:30 p.m., when the problem has been completely contained. Exposure to the substance was limited, according to a statement left on the UCSB Police newsline.

With the all clear signal at 1:30 p.m. students, faculty, and staff were allowed back in to the Biological Sciences 2 building

Anyone still in the building who may feel nauseated or dizzy was advised to contact any of the emergency crews on scene.

At 12:15 p.m., crews also responded to a reported of an electrical burn-like smell in the campus’s Student Affairs building. It has also been evacuated.

The most recent update posted by UCSB police did not say whether the incidents could be related.