MINNEAPOLIS - A building on the U of M campus is open again after it was shut down and evacuated Thursday morning due to reports of a strong chemical odor.
The U of M issued an alert after someone reported that odor on the 6th floor of Kolthoff Hall, 225 Pleasant Street Southeast. Crews from the Minneapolis Fire Department and the U of M Police Department responded to the scene to investigate and try to locate the source of the odor.
Students and staff were advised to stay away from the scene. Smith Hall, which is adjacent to Holthoff Hall, was evacuated as well.
First responders measured negative readings on all monitors, and the buildings were reopened shortly after 8:30 a.m. A Minneapolis Fire official tells KARE 11 that it appears a building ventilation fan was turned off, a class was burning sugar water in a pressurized classroom and someone opened the door, letting fumes escape.
Kolthoff Hall is listed on the U of M website as a science building that houses labs and classrooms.
