On May 21, the University Park Fire Department and a Dallas Fire Rescue Hazardous Materials team were called to SMU in a response to an alarm on campus.
At 1:53 p.m. an alarm went off next to a hazardous material structure. The structure is located between the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house and the Pi Kappa Alpha house behind fraternity row.
The area was announced as clear at 3:30 p.m. A power washer activated the alarm. The three workers were transported to a local medical facility as a precaution. About 200 faculty and staff members were evacuated from Dawson Service Center, Embrey Engineering Building, Junkins Engineering Building, SMU Service House and the Office of Residence Life and Student Housing. Had school been in session the fraternity houses also would have had to been evacuated, but no students were inside.