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India: BARC Fire | Accidental Mixing of
Chemicals
New Delhi, Mar 3: In the
latest update on the BARC, Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Mar 3 was told that
the fire was caused low intensity explosive energy released from
accidental mixing of small quantities of reactive
chemicals.
"Reason for the fire accident as
indicated by the report of Investigation Committee set up by BARC is low
intensity explosive energy released from accidental mixing of small
quantities of reactive chemicals stored in the Chemical Laboratory,"
Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan said in a written
reply.
He added
that the committee has made several suggestions to avert similar
incidents in the future.
On Dec 29, fire broke out in a chemical lab at Bhabha
Atomic Research Centre (BARC), which led to the death of two PhD
students.
india laboratory explosion
death
US: EPA adds 10 sites to the Superfund
list
After years of languishing as the neglected stepchild
of environmental enforcement, there are signs that the Environmental
Protection Agency=92s Superfund program is beginning a big shift in
priorities for cleaning up federal toxic waste sites, advocates
say.
US_NV Fumes prompt school evacuation -
News
Fumes prompt school
evacuation
WINCHESTER -- Firefighters evacuated a local beauty
school Tuesday after chemical fumes filled a classroom and caused some
students to feel lightheaded.
The Winchester Fire and Rescue Department received a
call shortly after 1 p.m. for a report of an unknown odor inside
International Beauty School, 808 Berryville Ave., according to Fire
Marshal Gary Ganoe. A mixture of chemicals used as adhesives for nails
started to emit strong odors in a room with approximately 50 students,
Ganoe said.
"They didn't have enough ventilation for the chemicals
they were using," Ganoe said.
Some students said they felt lightheaded but none fell
ill or needed medical treatment as a result of the fumes, according to
Ganoe.
US_OR: Crater High explosion is
'criminal'
CENTRAL POINT -- Central Point police are
investigating a Wednesday morning explosion at Crater High School as a
criminal incident and police say an arrest is pending.
"We're
treating it as a criminal incident and investigating it as a crime,"
said Central Point Police Lt. Chuck Newell, adding anyone suspected of
involvement "absolutely could face serious charges."
Several
people, including students, will be interviewed to determine what
information they have on the incident. Chemicals from the site of the
explosion have been collected and are en route to a state crime lab for
analysis, Newell said.
A school official and several students have told KTVL
the incident appears to be a prank, but Newell said it's too soon to
tell.
US_NY: Mother won=92t talk about Delmar
fire
The mother of a teen who was badly burned in a Dec. 19
fire will not speak to police investigating what started the chemical
fire that destroyed her family=92s home, police said.
Michelle
Sanchez and her 15-year-old son, Keenan, were there when the fire
started in their basement, but neither is cooperating with the Bethlehem
Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives investigation, town police Lt. Thomas Heffernan
said.
=93At this point, the mom still has refused to allow
us to speak with the son,=94 said Heffernan, adding that Sanchez herself
has refused to be questioned. =93It=92s at a little bit of a
standstill.=94
US_WI: Investigators: La Crosse fire victim had chemicals near
propane torch
Investigators: La Crosse fire victim had chemicals near
propane torch
A container of volatile chemicals opened too close to
a propane torch is thought to have triggered an explosion and fire that
killed a man inside a South Side duplex late Sunday, fire investigators
said.
The body of James Oestreich, 34, was found in the
basement of 1032 Redfield St. about 11:55 p.m. Sunday, said La Crosse
fire Capt. John Helfrich.
The explosion consumed the chemicals, evaporating any
chance to determine what they might have been, officials
said.
But the household did have chemical mixtures as well
as acetone, benzine and other chemicals that were removed and destroyed,
Helfrich said.
The fire started near the floor in the center of a
north basement room and, with nothing else nearby to fuel the flames,
quickly dissipated and was contained to the basement, Helfrich
said.
US_WI: Chem. Safety Board to hold news
conference in Wausau
WAUSAU
(WAOW)-- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board will hold a news conference
Thursday following a fatal welding accident in Tomahawk. Three people
were killed and four injured during the 2008 explosion at Packaging
Corporation of America. A spokesperson for the Board says the PCA
investigation has sparked serious concerns about welding and other hot
work in manfacturing. They plan to release a warning Thursday related to
those concerns, as well as update the ongoing investgation at PCA. P-C-A
was cited and fined for violations related to the explosion. We will
have coverage Thursday night on Newsline 9 from the news
conference.
