Firefighters have extinguished a fire, believed to have been started by an experiment gone wrong, in an Australian National University laboratory and have begun "air monitoring operations".
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An Emergency Services Agency spokesman said they were also searching for hot spots after putting out a fire that started in a fume cupboard that stored commercial-grade cleaning solvents.
"[There was] minor heat and smoke logging to three-storey building with extensive damage to room of origin and roof space above," he said.
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The spokesman said the fire was contained to the room where it started, on the upper floor of the three-storey School of Chemistry building.
"Crews [are] carrying out ventilation and air monitoring operations," he said.
"Heavy smoke logging was recorded on top and lower floors."
The School of Chemistry building was evacuated while emergency services fought the structure fire on the Australian National University's Acton campus.
About 120 people were evacuated and authorities set up a 200m exclusion zone set around area.
A university worker, who has asked not to be named, said many of the surrounding buildings had also been evacuated after fire alarms started going off.
"They've locked down the buildings and told everyone to go home," she said, but added that it was a quiet time of year for the university. "There's very, very few students, a lot of people are already away on leave."
Paramedics are on scene supporting operations, and have treated a 44-year-old man for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters believe the fire in the Birch Building started from two experiments in a fume cupboard. ACT Fire and Rescue are working to extinguish the fire.
The Birch Building houses the university's Research School of Chemistry, along with a number of associated science groups.
It is understood firefighters had been concerned that using water to put out the fire could spread chemicals in the laboratory.
