Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:22:43 -0500
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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.





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