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Chemical Spill Forces Evacuation Of USF Physics Building

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

Updated: 05/21/2008 03:47 pm

TAMPA - A chemical spill forced the evacuation and temporary closure of the University of South Florida's physics building just before noon today.

About 100 people were evacuated, and paramedics treated people at the scene for inhalation injuries, said Lt. Meg Ross of the USF police force.

No one was hospitalized.

About a gallon of carbon tetrachloride spilled about 11:30 a.m. while personnel attempted to move stocks of it for storage in the physics building, which is on USF's main campus off Fowler Avenue, Ross said.

The chemical, once used commonly in fire extinguishers and as a refrigerant, has been banned from use in U.S. consumer products for decades.

Ross said the building reopened at 3:30 p.m.

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