Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:59:30 -0400
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From: List Moderator <ecgrants**At_Symbol_Here**UVM.EDU>
Subject: Lab fire at CU-Boulder chemistry building doused by sprinklers

htt p://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_13444114?source=most_viewed

Lab fire at CU-Boulder chemistry building doused by sprinklers
By Melanie Asmar
Posted: 09/29/2009 10:27:38 AM MDT

Fire officials are investigating a minor laboratory fire at the University of Colorado=92s Cristol Chemistry and Biochemistry Building early this morning that caused no injuries and was extinguished by the sprinkler system.

The fire occurred in a fume hood in Lab 120 of the building, said campus spokesman Bronson Hilliard. Though the cause of this morning=92s fire is still unknown, Hilliard said fume-hood fires are often caused by chemical reactions.

No one was in the building when the fire alarm went off at 5:55 a.m., officials said. The sprinkler system activated immediately, Hilliard said, and a single sprinkler was able to extinguish nearly the entire fire. When firefighters arrived, they put out the remaining flames by patting them with their gloves, he said.

Cristol remains closed while officials determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage to the laboratory. It=92s unclear when the building will reopen but it likely won=92t be today, Hilliard said.

Officials sent a message about the fire to CU students, faculty and staff via the Campus Alerts text-messaging system at 6:43 a.m. to tell them that Cristol would be closed, Hilliard said. Because it was used this morning, a test of the system planned for this afternoon has been cancelled.

However, volunteers will still be in the University Memorial Center today to help people sign up for the system, through which officials can send messages of 132 characters or less to cell phones in its database during an emergency. 

    






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