A fire alarm at Iacocca Hall was set off around 12:40 p.m. due to a potentially hazardous gas leak. A hydrogen sulfide leak was reported to have occurred on the third floor of the building.
“Hydrogen sulfide is a highly flammable, explosive gas and can cause possible life-threatening situations if not properly handled,” according to the United States Department of labor.
The building was evacuated and emergency services were on scene – including multiple Bethlehem Fire Department trucks and an ambulance.
According to an email sent to the Lehigh community by Provost Pat Farrell, a gas cylinder in a ventilated fume hood leaked. Environmental Health and Safety is on the scene and has indicated that everyone will be readmitted to the building by 1:45 p.m. A later email from Barb Plohocki amended this time to 2 p.m.
Lehigh’s Environmental Health and Safety Office – along with the LUPD and the Bethlehem fire department – are investigating the contained leak, according to the email from Plohocki.
The Lehigh University Police Department and the Bethlehem Fire Department were both unreachable for comment at this time.
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