A chemical reaction gone wrong caused a minor explosion at the chemical engineering department at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Hazmat crews and the City of Boulder Fire Department are on the scene investigating the incident, said Bronson Hilliard, a spokesman for the university.
Hilliard said a post-doctoral student was in the building mixing chemicals in a glass vial.
“They reacted adversely, and he was trying to transport the vial out of the room so it wouldn’t harm anyone if it exploded,” Hilliard said.
As the student did so, the glass vial exploded. The student suffered minor injuries from the broken glass including a laceration to the head, but was able to walk to the campus health center where he has been treated and decontaminated.
According to early reports, there were no other injuries.
The chemicals created “noxious” fumes, which also prompted evacuations from the south wing of the engineering department.
Hilliard said hazmat crews are in the building now trying to figure out what chemicals were used and making sure the building is safe for students and staff to return.
