Fire, Water, and Soot—A Cautionary Tale

A fire in an organic chemistry laboratory caused serious damage to a large part of the Chemistry and Biochemistry area. The fire is believed to have been caused by a buildup of flammable vapors that were ignited by a drying oven. Hot weather, poor air circulation, and ductless fume hoods may have co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2000-05, Vol.77 (5), p.547
Main Author: Pine, Stanley H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Colleges & universities
Fires
Flammability
Laboratories
Physical sciences
Soot
Vapors
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:A fire in an organic chemistry laboratory caused serious damage to a large part of the Chemistry and Biochemistry area. The fire is believed to have been caused by a buildup of flammable vapors that were ignited by a drying oven. Hot weather, poor air circulation, and ductless fume hoods may have contributed to conditions favorable to initiating the fire. The volume of flammable solvents stored in the laboratory enhanced the heat and extent of the fire. Fire safety doors and closed storage cabinets helped to limit the spread of the fire, though damage from water and soot was extensive.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/ed077p547