In the fall of 2002, a fire occurred at the end of the business day in a four-story laboratory that is part of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Woods Hole, MA. The fire was limited to a power supply for a piece of research equipment in one of the labs located on the first floor, but smoke and soot spread to other parts of the building. The building was evacuated and smoke/soot damage was extensive, but fortunately there were no injuries. While the lab in which the fire occurred and adjoining spaces were isolated, the rest of the building was reoccupied once approval was given by the local fire department. However, occupant concerns about potential health impacts from the residual soot and odors prompted Ron Reif, Manager of Environmental Health and Safety at WHOI, to contact EH&E to perform an assessment.