D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services relocated Thurston Hall residents to the University Student Center for about 50 minutes due to an electrical issue Tuesday evening, less than 24 hours after evacuating residents due to a laundry room fire.

FEMS Public Information Officer Vito Maggiolo said the department dispatched four units at 8:54 p.m. to respond to reports of smoke in the building. In an email sent to residents, officials said no fire was present and residents were evacuated in order for FEMS to conduct a “thorough” search for the source of the smoke.

Maggiolo said the smoke was originally confined into one room but “dissipated,” leading the department to release “most” of the units and allow remaining personnel to investigate where the smoke originated.

The email, which was sent to residents after the building was cleared for reentry at 9:55 p.m., said an electrical issue was identified and HVAC contractors are on site to resolve the problem. The email also stated that academic “expectations” would not be given to students tomorrow because the issue was resolved quickly.

Officials issued a “critical” GW Alert at 9:05 p.m. instructing all Thurston residents to evacuate the building immediately and go to the University Student Center. While some residents went to the student center, others went into neighboring dorms like Potomac House or congregated outside across the street from the residence hall.

At 9:58 p.m., Tyler Gilkey and Jess Gonzalez, the community coordinators for Thurston, sent an email reminding residents that the rally point in a fire emergency is the 1922 F St. parking garage near Subway and that students should leave the building every time the fire alarm is triggered.

“Failure to exit the building in a timely fashion will result in documentation and you should expect to hear from the Office of Conflict Education and Student Accountability (CESA) regarding this policy violation,” the email stated.

Hannah Marr contributed reporting.