Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

Login Options

2:07 a.m. • 2-11-12

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Mostly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 52° F
  • Sun: Clear.
    • Hi: 43° F
  • Mon: Mostly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 50° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Marketplace Links

Social Links

Main Menu

Posted: March 27, 2007
Updated: March 28, 2007

1 Person Injured, 2 NCSU Buildings Evacuated After Explosion

e-mail print friendly
2 N.C. State Buildings Evacuated After Battery Explosion
2 N.C. State Buildings Evacuated After Battery Explosion

Raleigh, N.C. — Two science buildings at North Carolina State University were briefly evacuated Tuesday and hazmat crews were called to the scene after a battery exploded.

Dr. Alex I. Smirnov, associate professor of chemistry, was transported to WakeMed for treatment of minor injuries. N.C. State campus police responded to 613 Cox Hall at about 3:15 p.m.

Authorities said Smirnov was inserting a small battery into an instrument when the battery caused a minor explosion, campus police Sgt. Jon Barnwell said. The explosion caused acid to hit his face.

Authorities evacuated Cox Hall as a precaution after reports of a strong odor of sulfur, Barnwell said.

Both buildings reopened shortly after 5 p.m. The laboratory where the explosion occurred was still closed.

Neighboring Dabney Hall was also evacuated because it is connected to Cox.

RELATED TOPICS: NC State University

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
e-mail print friendly

23 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments VIEW ALL 23 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments
It could also be that because it is a school, they have a policy of evacuating the entire building. I can guarantee you that if they hadn't, SOMEONE would come on here saying how slack they were and how they should have.
Click to view my profile NCTeacher
March 28, 2007 6:07 a.m.
It was probably called in to 911 by someone who went overboard. Probably something to the extent of "Hey, um there was an explosion in a lab at State...I think someone is hurt" or something similar.

So knowing what kind of nasty crap they have in college labs (sulfer, chlorine, ammonia, etc) they wanted to play it safe getting people out. We all know that if it turned out worse and they didn't play it safe, everyone would be raising hell about how poor of a job they did.
Click to view my profile RPD07
March 28, 2007 5:28 a.m.
Hey, a lead-cell battery blew up and threw sulphuric acid all over the place. I am surprised that Hazmat didn't evacuate all of west Raleigh. IT'S A CAR BATTERY!!!!! It's not a keg of plutonium or a vat of chlorine gas. And if you get that acid in your eyes, it can cause some real damage. But evacuating entire buildings? Have people thrown sanity out the window?
Click to view my profile Steve Crisp
March 27, 2007 11:37 p.m.
haha I got to miss my chem class in dabney because of this
Click to view my profile NCSU
March 27, 2007 8:14 p.m.
Be gone spelling nazi
Click to view my profile Say it to my face
March 27, 2007 8:12 p.m.
View Comments VIEW ALL 23 COMMENTS

Photo Spotlight

more photos
Report It

Multimedia

more
Click Here