Updated as of 12:12 p.m. to include information on remediation efforts.
A chemical spill from containers used to clean athletic gear created carbon dioxide at the entrance to the Koury Fieldhouse on Saturday morning, according to Elon University spokesperson Eric Townsend.
Townsend said remnants from the containers reacted with nearby pine straw and combined to create the gas. Townsend also said an odor was reported.
At 9:11 a.m. on April 4, Elon Campus Security and Police told community members that there was an ongoing investigation at the Koury Fieldhouse, according to an E-Alert. An additional E-Alert, released at 10:56 a.m., explained emergency personnel were on-site assisting with clean-up efforts, and parts of Koury Fieldhouse will remain restricted. Normal activities on the athletic fields are safe to resume.
At this time, it is not known when the investigation will conclude, according to Faith Shearer, senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Elon.
A few members of Elon’s track team were around the facility when the spill was first reported, according to assistant coach Mark Rinker.
Members of the baseball and track team were able to retrieve equipment from the fieldhouse. Townsend said the university is in the process of having a contractor help with clean-up procedures, or final remediation of the area, which may include soil removal.
The investigation has put Elon women’s lacrosse’s senior day game into delay — which was set to kick off at 12 p.m. Elon’s women’s lacrosse posted on social media that the game will now start at 4 p.m. due to the facilities issues.
Head women's lacrosse coach, Josh Hexter, did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.
In a statement at 12:05 p.m. Townsend said the remediation was complete and the fieldhouse was reopened. The Environmental Protection Agency defines remediation wastes as solid and hazardous waste that are managed for implementing cleanup.