Chemical Reaction Prompts Evacuation of Chicago area School
Aaron Wilmot
December 20, 2008
A dangerous materials spill created a small explosion in a science lab earlier in the week, initiating a brief evacuation of a Chicago area suburban high school.
At around 12:50 p.m. last Thursday, children and staff at the Hoffman Estates High at 1100 W. Higgins Rd. were sent outside in reaction to a fire alarm which was initiated by a chemical reaction, according to an alert which was posted on the school Web site homepage. Students were later temporarily transferred to the gym.
All in all, no students suffered personal injury, although 2 staff members were sent to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates just in case, according to a joint release from the Hoffman Estates Police and Fire departments. 1 of them was scheduled to be released from the hospital the next day, Fire Chief Robert Gorvett said.
It appears that the spill happened when an unidentified person put the chemical in question into a sink in the science laboratory there. It then reacted with water in the drain trap and this triggered an explosion in the drain pipe itself. Household chemicals later spread on the floor of the laboratory in a sort of domino effect.
The accident happened in a "non-student preparation area" being cleaned and packed for a scheduled move because of an an upcoming building project. By the way if you live in Chicago and need a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney you might consider this Law office as they are experienced an Chicago Personal Injury Attorney firm.
Crews isolated the area where the spill occurred and a private "HazMat mitigation team" was contacted. That team will work Thursday evening to clean up the area.
After crews conducted air quality samples, students and staff were allowed to re-enter the school and dismissal occurred on time, the release said. Since there was no personal injury and no apparent criminal intent, I doubt if any of the students needs to rush out and get an attorney any time soon.
At around 12:50 p.m. last Thursday, children and staff at the Hoffman Estates High at 1100 W. Higgins Rd. were sent outside in reaction to a fire alarm which was initiated by a chemical reaction, according to an alert which was posted on the school Web site homepage. Students were later temporarily transferred to the gym.
All in all, no students suffered personal injury, although 2 staff members were sent to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates just in case, according to a joint release from the Hoffman Estates Police and Fire departments. 1 of them was scheduled to be released from the hospital the next day, Fire Chief Robert Gorvett said.
It appears that the spill happened when an unidentified person put the chemical in question into a sink in the science laboratory there. It then reacted with water in the drain trap and this triggered an explosion in the drain pipe itself. Household chemicals later spread on the floor of the laboratory in a sort of domino effect.
The accident happened in a "non-student preparation area" being cleaned and packed for a scheduled move because of an an upcoming building project. By the way if you live in Chicago and need a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney you might consider this Law office as they are experienced an Chicago Personal Injury Attorney firm.
Crews isolated the area where the spill occurred and a private "HazMat mitigation team" was contacted. That team will work Thursday evening to clean up the area.
After crews conducted air quality samples, students and staff were allowed to re-enter the school and dismissal occurred on time, the release said. Since there was no personal injury and no apparent criminal intent, I doubt if any of the students needs to rush out and get an attorney any time soon.