Housing residents in Phillips Hall were evacuated after the discovery of a Freon gas leak late Tuesday night.

The University of Wisconsin Police Department and Madison Fire Department responded to the call at approximately 11 p.m. after smoke was seen in the Lakeshore dormitory.

The alarms were triggered by a Freon gas leak.

“Firefighters were able to determine that the smoke was in fact Freon leaking from the building’s cooling system,” said UWPD Sgt. Aaron Chapin in a statement.

UW students were evacuated to the Natatorium across the street from the dormitory, to wait until the leak was fixed.

Meanwhile, maintenance was able to locate the leak source and “shut off valves connecting to [the] failed piping” according to University Housing Assistant Director Mike Kinderman.

Kinderman also said it is still unknown exactly how much Freon gas escaped.

Exposure to the refrigerant Freon, a compound gas composed of chlorine, fluorine and methane, can case several severe symptoms.These symptoms include skin irritation, burns, severe pain and swelling in the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.

Still, there were no reported injuries among the 142 students who currently have housing contracts with the dormitory. 

Residents were allowed to return to their dorms after the leak was under control at approximately 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Kinderman said the problem in the cooling system has been isolated and maintenance personnel should have the repairs completed within the week.

Formerly known as Friedrick Hall, Phillips Hall was renamed this year after UW alum and civil rights pioneer, Vel Phillips. Phillips, who graduated in 1951 with a law degree, is the first African American woman to ever do so at the UW Law School.

Extension chose to honor the building’s original namesake, Jacob Friedrick, with an honor associated with their program.

Phillips Hall has been used by the UW-Extension as a conference center since 1978. The building was converted into a coed residence hall in 2008.