Chemical spill forces evacuations at UMass Dartmouth

By: Brittany Comak

Email: bcomak@abc6.com

Twitter: @BComakABC6

DARTMOUTH, Mass. (WLNE) – Dozens of students and teachers had to be evacuated from the Science and Engineering building on the UMass Dartmouth campus Monday afternoon due to a chemical spill.

Fortunately everyone made it out safely. The spill happened in one of the laboratories.

“We were all kind of in lab just doing our thing and the fire alarm just went on,” said junior Nickolas Laforce.

Students described seeing emergency personnel just outside the building who informed them there had been a chemical spill.

“We were just told, ‘Yep the building’s closed and we can’t come back till later,'” said junior Alec Pimentel.

According to the university, the spill was contained to an area of rooms on the third floor, and hazmat determined the chemicals not to be dangerous.

They did not say what the chemicals were.

“Luckily I grabbed my bag and stuff but we have a couple of friends that don’t have – that left their keys and stuff inside the building so can’t grab it,” Pimentel explained.

Students attempting to get back into the school after 6 P.M. Monday night to finish final projects were still locked out.

“We came back because we have a project to do,” said Laforce. “But it’s still not open so we’re just going to hang out until maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t.”

The building opened back up just before 7 P.M. As for whether they think this lost time will get them an extension for finals week?

“We’ll just have to deal with it,” said Pimentel.

Though the school gave the all clear to re-enter the building, students still need to stay away from the lab where the spill happened on the third floor.

A university spokesperson says that area should be completely cleaned up by Tuesday morning.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019