Woman hurt in fire at UCLA lab

A 22-year-old woman suffered second- and third-degree burns over her upper body Monday afternoon when chemicals in a lab at UCLA’s molecular sciences building caused a flash fire as they were being mixed, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said.

The woman, who was not identified, was taken to UCLA Medical Center for treatment shortly before 3 p.m.

The fire was out by the time the Fire Department arrived, a department spokeswoman said.

Fire Department spokeswoman Melissa Kelley said the laboratory had been sealed and all hazardous chemicals removed or neutralized after the incident.

Arson investigators were looking into the incident, a routine procedure in fires at schools, Kelley said.

-- Jean Merl