Chemistry class fire at high school sends four to hospital, Virginia officials say
A chemistry class fire sent three high school students and one teacher to a hospital, Virginia officials say.
It happened early Wednesday, Oct. 12, when a fire broke out during a chemistry class at Dinwiddie High School, according to a news release from Dinwiddie County Fire & EMS. Officials say they were notified by the school resource officer, the school’s fire alarm system and staff phone calls.
When fire and EMS officials responded to the school, students were already evacuated and the classroom fire had been put out, the release says.
The school dismissed students early at 11:15 a.m., according to Dinwiddie County Public Schools.
Emergency personnel say they located three students with burn injuries. All three students were treated by EMS and were transported to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Two of the students were transported by ambulance and one was airlifted, officials say.
As officials continued assessing the scene, they located a fourth student with burn injuries, the release says. That student was treated at the scene and released with a minor burn injury.
A teacher was also sent to a hospital for treatment, according to officials. There are no updates on the students’ or teacher’s conditions.
Fire & EMS say they are collaborating with the Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office to determine the cause of the fire.
Dinwiddie County is 45 miles southwest of Richmond.
This story was originally published October 12, 2022 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Chemistry class fire at high school sends four to hospital, Virginia officials say."
