[neact] Two science lab fires

From: Stephen Stepenuck <sstepenuck@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:41:02 -0400
From today¹s ACS/DCHAS [American Chemical Society/Division of Chemical
Health and Safety] listserve:

Lots of lessons in these stories--sjs
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STUDENTS, TEACHER HURT IN SCHOOL FIRE
http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/article_e29d47c4-72fa
-11e1-a0f9-0019bb2963f4.html
Tags: us_WI, laboratory, fire, injury, methanol

REEDSBURG ? A chemical fire in a Reedsburg Area High School chemistry class
injured three students and a teacher Monday.
The teacher and two of the students were transported to Reedsburg Area
Medical Center with minor injuries, Reedsburg Ambulance Director Josh
Kowalke said.
One of the students and the teacher then were taken to the University of
Wisconsin Burn Center for further treatment.
Two of the students were back in school Tuesday, Principal Rob Taylor said.
The teacher is at home recovering and one student is still in Madison.
Officials would not confirm the name of the students or the teacher, but
there is only one Chemistry II teacher, Corinne Fish, according to the
district¹s website.
Taylor said the experiment that caused the fire is one that has been done
³literally hundreds of times² at the school over the years.
³It¹s an experiment with salt and methanol that makes different-colored
flames,² Taylor said. ³For some reason, this time it caused a bigger flash
than usual.²
Taylor said a student¹s sweater caught fire, as did the teacher¹s lab coat.
Several students in the class called 911 while others contacted the front
office. The school¹s emergency response team, including associate principal
Matt Terry and assistant principal Gary Syftestad, responded immediately.
³The team performed exactly like they should have,² Taylor said. ³The girl
dropped and rolled and then the teacher unselfishly put out the fire on the
young lady while her own arm was still on fire.²
Each science lab is equipped with an emergency shower, fire extinguisher and
fire blankets, all of which were used to help the teacher and students.

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SUSSEX TECH REMAINS CLOSED AFTER FIRE
http://www.njherald.com/story/17196219/sussex-tech-remains-closed-after-fire
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical

SPARTA -- Sussex County Technical School will remain closed through
Thursday, as the school continues to clean up from a fire that started last
Wednesday night in a science lab.

The school is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Friday.

The fire, which was caused by a chemical reaction in a 30-gallon garbage
can, has forced the district to close for at least six days and will lead to
the relocation of eight classrooms and several lockers for the remainder of
the school year, according to Interim Superintendent Anthony Macerino.

"Clean-up has commenced and is proceeding well," Macerino said on Monday.
"As with any fire or emergency facility situation, air quality tests have
been completed."

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[neact] Two science lab fires

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