Lab Explosion At Southfield-Lathrup High School
LATHRUP VILLAGE (WWJ) – It was unexpected day off for students at Southfield-Lathrup High, after an explosion in a science lab.
WWJ Newsradio 950’s Pat Sweeting reports that it was just after 9 a.m. when an 11th grade chemistry experiment went awry, causing an explosion and the evaluation of nearly a dozen students.
Southfield Fire Battalion Chief Keith Rowley says the kids were making a smoke bomb.
“I think they heat this mixture that caramalizes sugar and the potassium nitrite is mixed into it and then they put a little bit of a mixture onto the foil and it smokes,” Rowely said.
But instead of smoking, the mixture created an explosion that shot straight into the air and burned some ceiling tiles
WWJ spoke also with Deputy Southfield Schools Superintendent Ken Siever, who provided more details about what happened.
“Nobody was seriously injured. There are some kids that are being taken to the hospital to be checked out, as well as the Assistant Principal,” Siever said.
“There are a couple of kids with minor burns, little flash burns. There is some damage to the classroom,” he said.
The school was evacuated, and closed for the day to allow crews to clean up the white powder left behind. Classes will resume on Wednesday.