Chemical Leak Forces Evacuation on Campus
A leaky, five-gallon container of xylene forced evacuation of about 400 students and staffers from a building at Cal State Los Angeles on Tuesday, but there were no injuries.
Forty firefighters and a hazardous materials team were sent to King Hall, 5151 E. State University Drive, about 10 a.m., after the container of xylene was found leaking in a fourth floor room, said city Fire Department spokesman Bob Collis.
He said the container “apparently had been there for some time.”
Xylene is a flammable chemical that may explode and emit poisonous gases if ignited. Its vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation, according to hazardous materials experts.
The school’s security officers ordered the evacuation of the building, including about 30 to 40 children in a day-care facility.
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