Firefighters are responding to a hazardous materials situation at Utah State University on Thursday evening.
Students evacuated Mountain View Tower dormitory Thursday evening while firefighters investigated and hazmat crews taped off the building after 8:30 p.m.
LOGAN — One student was arrested after mixing chemicals that led to mass evacuations at a Utah State University campus housing building on Thursday evening.
Firefighters and police responded to a fire alarm and hazardous materials situation at Mountain View Tower at USU just before 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, according to a statement from USU.
“USU Police have determined this individual acted recklessly and the criminal investigation remains active,” wrote a spokesperson for USU.
Residents were evacuated for potential smoke contamination while Logan Fire investigated. All ventilation systems to the building was shut down soon after the fire alarm sounded.
Police identified a person who had a mixture of chemicals in his residence hall room, according to a news release. The individual was isolated for contamination and later arrested by USU Police for initial misdemeanor charges of one count of disorderly conduct and one count of creating a catastrophe. This is an ongoing investigation and other charges may be added, USU stated, adding that no other students needed to be decontaminated.
USU Housing temporarily loaded evacuated students from the seven-floor dormitory on an Aggie Shuttle bus and/or in alternate housing to keep them out of the below freezing temperatures while waiting for the Logan Fire Hazmat team to determine if decontamination was needed or to be let back into their room around midnight.
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Krystin Deschamp sent a message to occupants of Mountain View Tower that the CARE Office is available to help with academic issues caused by the evacuation.
This story has been updated.