The university shut down the Dow Science Complex and canceled classes today after a base-filled beaker dropped to the ground, releasing potentially dangerous chemicals.

Central Michigan University Police reopened the building at about 2 p.m. today, allowing students to retrieve materials left in the building — backpacks, laptops, purses and books. The building was officially reopened at about 4 p.m., but classes will not resume until Monday morning.

“Especially in a science building, people need to be ready to get out quickly,” said David Bailey, a Coldwater sophomore who was in class when the accident occurred. “It’s not as easy as spraying down a chemical fire with water. If you do that, the building could blow up. One drop of a vase, and the building could be shut down for five hours. Students need to be aware of that.”

Steve Smith, director of public relations, said rooms 343, 344 and 345 on the third floor will remain closed for another 24 hours to help air out the partially airborne chemical exposure.

Smith said anyone who needs their personal items before Monday can contact the CMU Police Department, but if students can wait until Monday, they need to proceed to the department of the class they were attending. Their belongings, he said, will be held safely during the weekend.

“If students are in a chemistry class, they need to go the chemistry department to retrieve their items,” Smith said. “Same goes for physics or biology. If students wait until next week, that’s how they will have to get their stuff, through the department offices.”

Jon Kujat, coordinator for Risk Management Environmental and Health Safety Services, cleans up and helps retrieve personal items for students and faculty after the chemical spill at the Dow Science Complex on Friday.

The chemical spill contained a mixture of 80 percent methanol and 20 percent ethylenediamine, a corrosive and flammable chemical.

About three liters of the liquid spilled onto a faculty members feet, some seeping through the shoe and onto their skin, said Sgt. Michael Dunham of the Mount Pleasant Fire Department.

“One individual — an instructor — was exposed to it at their feet. That’s where the beaker hit the ground,” said CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley. “We’ve locked down the area, and are following protocol to reopen the building.”

The faculty member, whose name has not yet been released, was treated and released from Central Michigan Community Hospital. The instructor, Dunham said, suffered caustic burns that were described as minor.

Central Michigan University Police, along with city fire and police officials and a HAZMAT team, arrived on the scene at about 10:20 a.m. after an instructor dropped a beaker in Dow’s third floor in room 345.

Dunham said the HAZMAT team used baking soda to counteract the chemical base.

Mason sophomore Jared Clapsaddle was in his physics class on the first floor when the fire alarm sounded, and everyone was asked to evacuate the building. He was asked to stand in the hallway by his instructor, under the impression it was just a fire drill.

Bailey also was in a physics class on the first floor. His class stepped outside toward Moore Hall.

Both Bailey and Clapsaddle left their belongings — backpacks, calculators and text books — inside the building, as instructors told students it was only a fire drill, and shouldn’t anticipate it taking more than 15 minutes.

A fire drill was planned for about 1:30 p.m. today in Dow.

“When we were standing in the hallway, the police yelled at us to get out,” Clapsaddle said. “We definitely just thought it was just a drill. People definitely need to take it more seriously, drills that is. I wouldn’t be waiting for my stuff in the rain if that was the case.”

Bailey’s bicycle is blocked off by police tape.

He said a chemical exposure is something that can’t be handled lightly.

Graduate student Syed Ashraf stood among a gathering crowd in the rain and noted the presence of the chemical in the air as he pointed to the open window of the room where the spill occurred.

“You can smell the ammonia blowing in the wind,” he said. “Even if it’s a small spill, it’s still dangerous.”

Ashraf said there is normally one to five liters of the chemical stored in the room. He also explained the basic procedures to guard the safety of those present when a spill occurs.

“If you spill something below the (gas) hood or on the floor, leave it alone, evacuate the room and close the door. If you spill it on yourself, remove the coat and splash water on yourself,” he said.

Philip Squattrito, a chemistry faculty member, was working on his computer in his office when the fire alarm sounded. His office is just down the hall in room 356.

“I thought nothing of it because we were supposed to have a fire drill today,” he said. ”(The chemical base is) something that would be irritating to breathe.”

CMU Police and environmental and safety services are currently investigating the incident and more details will be released as they become available.

Staff Reporter Adam Niemi contributed to this report.

Check cm-life.com for more updates.

E-mail the author: Jake May