Minor Damage Reported In OSU Lab Explosion

Tuesday, September 11th 2007, 8:33 pm

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ An apparent chemical explosion on Tuesday afternoon at an Oklahoma State University lab caused minor structural damage but caused no injuries. OSU spokeswoman Carrie Hulsey-Greene said the explosion in the university's Advanced Technology Research Center lab happened about 1:30 p.m. Officials evacuated that building and a nearby engineering building as a precaution, but the buildings were reopened by 5 p.m., she said.

Three people were inside the lab at the time of the explosion, which blew off the door of an oven being used in an experiment. The experiment involved the use of pentane, a flammable substance, but there was no smoke or fire. All the damage in the lab was caused by the explosion's concussion, Hulsey-Greene said.

The explosion caused a chemical spill, which emergency crews cleaned up before the building reopened, she said.