Burning rubber scent forces brief evacuation of science building
By Brandon Ortiz
Staff Reporter

A smoky, burning rubber scent of unknown origins led to a 30-minute evacuation of the Sid W. Richardson Building Tuesday afternoon, observers said.

“We’re not sure where it came from,” said Rex Helms, a supervisor in the Physical Plant and member of the Emergency Response Team.

Molly Beuerman/SKIFF STAFF Police cars and fire trucks gathered outside of the Sid W. Richardson Building Tuesday after a smoky, burning rubber scent forced the evacuation of the building.

Dozens of students stood outside of the building Tuesday afternoon after a fire alarm was pulled on the first floor, Helms said. Firefighters said they were notified at about 2:15 p.m.

Classes resumed after 2:45 p.m. and the building was declared safe, Helms said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, firefighters, observers and physical plant employees did not know where the smell came from.

Joe Robinson, an engineer for the Fort Worth Fire Department, said the smell appeared to be from an electrical problem. He described it as “a very minor problem.”

“It might have come through a vent in the computer room,” Robinson said.

Helms said Physical Plant employees went to the roof to check the building’s ventilation and “everything was clear.”

Observers described the smell as sulfur and rubber-like.

“It smelled really bad,” said Nathan Newquist, a sophomore advertising/public relations major. “It smelled like when they tar roofs.”

Helms said several faculty and staff did not leave their offices when the fire alarm went off.

“I almost had to drag one of them,” Helms said.

Brandon Ortiz
b.p.ortiz@student.tcu.edu

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