Colorado Mesa University evacuated the residents of Tolman Hall today after a water main broke in the boy’s wing of the third floor. CMU is currently in the process of relocating the evacuated residents to other residence halls on campus until Friday, when Tolman’s east wing is deemed “safe” again.

According to Media Relations Director David Ludlam, the first priority is to relocate students on campus if possible. “Should we not be able to locate all the students here on campus, we have partners in the private sector of Marriott and others who will stand by and provide that,” Ludlam said. “At this point in time, we’re wanting to keep people outside until they complete the safety assessment.”

Ludlam said that a formal statement will soon explain the extent of damage, assessment of potential mold and other hazards.

The fire alarm went off around 12:15 p.m. in Tolman after the water main broke in the boy’s wing of the third floor. The building was evacuated as water flooded the floor and stairs, running off the balconies facing the east parking lot.

Tolman custodian Dan White said that the bursting water main in the east wing caused the fire alarm to go off.

Director of Residence Life Jody Diers came to the scene to make preliminary plans. “If you absolutely positively need to get into your room we’ll let you in a couple at a time, but guys, it’s coming in above my shoes,” Diers said.

Diers said that maintenance crews had gone in and plugged the the rooms with towels under the doors and that once the initial water was out, they’d make further plans. Diers told the evacuated residents to meet back at Tolman Hall at 1:30 p.m. to discuss what will happen next.

Mckenzie Moore contributed to this report.