{
  "id": "2024-12-09-georgetown-university-refrigerant-leak-shelter",
  "slug": "georgetown-university-refrigerant-leak-shelter-2024-12-09",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Georgetown University",
    "shortName": "Georgetown",
    "state": "DC",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "HOYAlert"
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-12-09",
    "type": "gas-leak",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "headline": "Gas leak, December 9, 2024",
    "summary": "A refrigerant leak in a structure in the 1200 block of 35th Street NW prompted Georgetown University to issue a [shelter-in-place](https://wjla.com/news/local/georgetown-university-shelter-in-place-hazmat-chemical-leak-apartment-evacuated-students-staff-refrigerator-fluid-no-injuries-illness-washington-dc-fire-ems-hoyas) around 7:30 PM on December 9, 2024. D.C. Fire and EMS evacuated the affected building and ventilated it; the shelter-in-place was [lifted about an hour later](https://www.facebook.com/7NewsDC/posts/986189503542215/) with no injuries or illnesses reported.",
    "outcome": "D.C. Fire and EMS evacuated the affected building, controlled the leak, and ventilated the structure. The university shelter-in-place was lifted roughly an hour after it was issued, with no injuries or illnesses.",
    "resolution": "resolved-safely"
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2024-12-09T19:09:59-05:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "HOYAlert: Chemical leak reported at LXR. Avoid the area. Updates will be sent as they are available.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/HOYAlert/status/1866274124110475373",
      "sourceDescription": "@HOYAlert on X (verbatim chemical leak initial)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact @HOYAlert initial chemical-leak post; chronologically precedes the shelter-in-place and all-clear posts already recovered."
      ],
      "characterCount": 100
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Around 7:30 PM EST on December 9, 2024, after the refrigerant leak was reported around 7 PM",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "HOYAlert: Shelter in place at LXR. Dangerous conditions exist outdoors. Move indoors away from exterior windows and doors until an all clear is issued.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceDescription": "@HOYAlert on X (verbatim)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact @HOYAlert post. LXR is a Hilltop residence hall; official text names LXR rather than 35th Street NW."
      ],
      "characterCount": 151,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/HOYAlert/status/1866278721705095417"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestampApprox": "About an hour later, roughly 8:30 PM EST on December 9, 2024, after the structure was ventilated",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "HOYAlert: The chemical leak at LXR has now ended; this message is the all clear.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceDescription": "@HOYAlert on X (verbatim)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact @HOYAlert all-clear naming chemical leak at LXR."
      ],
      "characterCount": 80,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/HOYAlert/status/1866289983730155719"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Around 7 PM EST on Monday, December 9, 2024, D.C. Fire and EMS were called to investigate an odor in the 1200 block of 35th Street NW, on the edge of Georgetown University's campus, after refrigerant leaked in a structure, [WJLA reported](https://wjla.com/news/local/georgetown-university-shelter-in-place-hazmat-chemical-leak-apartment-evacuated-students-staff-refrigerator-fluid-no-injuries-illness-washington-dc-fire-ems-hoyas). The affected building was evacuated, and the university issued a campus shelter-in-place around 7:30 PM, [7News DC reported](https://www.facebook.com/7NewsDC/posts/986189503542215/). Crews controlled the leak and ventilated the structure, and the shelter-in-place was lifted about an hour later. No injuries or illnesses were reported. Refrigerant leaks are a recurring confined-space hazard around mechanical and lab cold-storage equipment, capable of displacing oxygen and irritating airways.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "A refrigerant leak in a single structure was enough to trigger a campus-wide shelter-in-place at an urban R1 university",
    "The response paired a targeted building evacuation with a broader shelter-in-place, then ventilated the structure",
    "The shelter-in-place lasted roughly an hour, from about 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM EST, before a clear all-clear",
    "No injuries or illnesses were reported despite the asphyxiation potential of a confined-space refrigerant release"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Georgetown University shelter-in-place lifted after reported chemical leak - WJLA",
      "url": "https://wjla.com/news/local/georgetown-university-shelter-in-place-hazmat-chemical-leak-apartment-evacuated-students-staff-refrigerator-fluid-no-injuries-illness-washington-dc-fire-ems-hoyas",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Georgetown University issued a shelter in place Monday after a reported chemical leak - 7News DC",
      "url": "https://www.facebook.com/7NewsDC/posts/986189503542215/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "@HOYAlert LXR shelter-in-place Dec 9 2024",
      "url": "https://x.com/HOYAlert/status/1866278721705095417",
      "type": "official-social"
    },
    {
      "title": "@HOYAlert LXR chemical leak all-clear Dec 10 2024",
      "url": "https://x.com/HOYAlert/status/1866289983730155719",
      "type": "official-social"
    },
    {
      "title": "@HOYAlert chemical leak initial (X)",
      "url": "https://x.com/HOYAlert/status/1866274124110475373",
      "type": "official-social"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "refrigerant-leak",
    "gas-leak",
    "shelter-in-place",
    "hazmat",
    "district-of-columbia",
    "emergency-notification"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-28",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-18",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}