A transient accessed a building on the UC Riverside campus Thursday and allegedly opened containers filled with nitrogen gas, creating potentially explosive conditions, but the hazard was quickly mitigated by Riverside firefighters, and the suspect was arrested.
The activity was reported about 7:15 a.m. in the Chemical Sciences Building, near the intersection of North Campus Drive and Big Springs Road, according to the Riverside Fire Department.
Battalion Chief Garrett Coryell said that a homeless woman, whose identity was not immediately released, went into a lab within the building and allegedly opened valves on the nitro tanks.
Witnesses called 911, and UCR police arrived moments later, taking the woman into custody without incident.
No one was injured.
Officers then initiated an evacuation of the building, as four engine crews and two truck companies from the fire department reached the location, according to Coryell.
“The Hazardous Materials Team arrived and took control of the hazard mitigation,” he said. “Entry teams were deployed to both monitor oxygen levels and to stop the release of any hazardous chemicals.”
According to Coryell, the entire building was ventilated to rid the premises of any nitro vapors, which can be toxic if inhaled in concentrated quantities.
“The building was rendered safe by fire personnel,” the battalion chief said.
By 9:30 a.m., firefighters returned the property to the supervision of campus officials and began clearing the scene, according to Coryell.
The suspect was taken to the Robert Presley Jail in downtown Riverside by campus police, but booking details were not immediately available, nor was there any additional information regarding why she allegedly created the hazard.