The Life Sciences Building on West Virginia University’s main campus was briefly evacuated Wednesday afternoon after oil leaked from a vacuum in one of the air conditioning units and became heated, releasing smoke and fumes in the building.

The smoke set off alarms shortly before 4 p.m., and the order to evacuate came quickly. Classes were under way at the time, but no estimate of the number of people evacuated was immediately available.

John Principe, director of WVU Environmental Health and Safety, said the evacuation was organized and orderly.

State and University environmental officials tested the air in the building and determined it was well within limits and an “all clear” was given about 4:30 p.m. and the building was reopened.

Campus Drive, which runs adjacent to the building, was briefly closed to allow emergency vehicles access.

There were no injuries.

-WVU-

jb/09/07/16

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