[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Leaking Cylinder Forces Evacuation of Campus Building

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Battalion Chief John Metz
Duty PIO Pager 573-441-6608 (For Active Emergency Incidents - Leave detailed message 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.)
Office 573-874-7644 (M-F, 8-5)


Leaking Cylinder Forces Evacuation of Campus Building

COLUMBIA, MO (March 13, 2015) - At 9:25 a.m. Friday, March 13, 2015 the Columbia Fire Department responded to a reported hazardous materials incident at the MU Animal Science Research Center, 920 East Campus Drive. The 9-1-1 caller reported a leaking hydrogen tank.

Columbia firefighters arrived on the scene at 9:30 a.m.  to find the building being evacuated. Firefighters discovered that an employee was transferring a connection between an empty hydrogen tank and a full tank when she encountered difficulty and the full tank began to leak. Unable to stop the leaking cylinder, the employee alerted other occupants and someone activated the fire alarm to evacuate the building.

Firefighters with air-monitoring equipment entered the building and confirmed the presence of the leaking hydrogen gas. Wearing full protective clothing, including self-contained breathing apparatus, firefighters located the leaking four foot tall cylinder and shut it off. “Fortunately the concentration of hydrogen gas was not enough to pose a fire or explosion hazard and crews were able to make entry and secure the tank” said Fire Battalion Chief John Metz. After the tank was shut off, firefighters used large fans to ventilate any remaining gas from the building.

Two fire engines, a ladder truck, rescue squad, and hazardous materials truck responded to the incident. It took approximately ten minutes to locate and shut the tank off. Crews remained on the scene for approximately one hour ventilating the building. There were no injuries. 



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