McIntosh Hall Gas Leak Scare

On 3 October, residents of McIntosh Hall were abruptly evacuated due to a supposed gas leak within the building. The hall, which accommodates around 400 students, was swiftly emptied, and residents were instructed to remain out of the hall for several hours until the situation was resolved.

The evacuation was handled promptly according to the University’s safety protocols,with staff ensuring that students left the building as soon as possible. Colin Turner, a third-year resident of McIntosh Hall, expressed satisfaction with the initial protocol, stating that “the response was reassuring, as everyone knew to evacuate as soon as possible.” 

However, the incident also highlighted areas for improvement. Turner noted that “the communication should have been better. In fact, there was a time where some of us were told to go back to the common room only to be shepherded out straight away and told we couldn’t come back.” Likewise, a second-year resident whose identity remains anonymous said, “Many [of us] had no idea why we were evacuating or when we could come back.” 

Fortunately, students were allowed to return to their rooms later that evening once the situation was resolved. However, students reported that they were told there had never been a gas leak in the first place, leading many to remain sceptical about the situation. 

Image from the University Times