Explosion Damages Chemistry Lab

Cal State Fullerton officials and a hazardous materials crew on Friday were investigating an explosion in the university’s science building as cleanup of the damaged chemistry lab continued.

The blast, which occurred at 7 p.m. Thursday, left the floor, ceiling and door of the lab doused with a compound believed to be a mixture of a “very weak” hydrochloric acid solution and heating oil, Cal State Fullerton spokeswoman Paula Selleck said. No one was injured.

The explosion occurred while associate professor Joseph L. Thomas was heating oil and a solution of hydrochloric acid in the lab, said professor John Olmsted, chairman of Cal State Fullerton’s chemistry department. As the materials were being heated, one or more of the flasks cracked, releasing hot steam and acid fumes.