Multiple fire response agencies rushed to Campus View Apartments on Thursday at around 1:40 p.m. following reports of smoke and fire alarms.

With alarms echoing throughout campus, residents headed to the lawn across from Bowman Field to avoid the threat of fire in their building. Smoke was reported on floors four and five, which firefighters worked quickly to clear by opening windows after finding no active flames.

Several residents were wearing backpacks, while others looked as if they had just gotten out of the shower and were standing outside in the 44-degree weather, awaiting the all-clear from emergency personnel. One resident held a seemingly frightened puppy.

The main agency on scene, Clemson University Fire and EMS, brought multiple engines and a fire truck, which were staged around the building.

Multiple ambulances from CUFD and a nearby Pickens County ambulance also responded while University police worked to secure the scene from multiple angles.

Residents were not allowed into the areas surrounding the building. CUPD barricaded Daniel Drive and Earle Street for over an hour.

The initial report of a potential fire prompted a mutual aid response from other local agencies, such as the Oconee County Fire Department and the Central Fire Department.

In total, over 15 emergency vehicles surrounded the apartment complex.

Firefighters did a final exhaustive search of the building before allowing residents to return inside at around 2:40 p.m., and the last emergency vehicles left the scene around 3:15 p.m.