Brookline, MA student injured in IPA fire

Via Vivi Smilgius of Brookline News: 

A Brookline High School student and teacher were burned when a fire broke out on July 3 during a chemistry experiment in a summer school class, according to Brookline and state fire authorities.

The student, a 15-year-old, was treated at the scene by Brookline firefighters and taken to Boston Children’s Hospital for first- and second-degree burns to the hands, chest and face, according to Brookline Fire Chief John Sullivan.

The student was the only person treated by the Brookline Fire Department, Sullivan said. The teacher sustained “burns that were less serious,” according to Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Fire Marshal. Fire officials did not identify the student or teacher.

Brookline’s fire investigation team is investigating the incident, assisted by the state marshal’s office.

“The preliminary evidence suggests that a teacher was conducting an experiment that involved isopropyl alcohol, which is highly flammable. During this process, the alcohol ignited and the shirt of a student in close proximity caught fire, causing serious burn injuries,” Wark said in a statement to Brookline.News.

The teacher immediately helped the student, and another student used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, Wark said.

The Public Schools of Brookline did not respond to requests for comment from Brookline.News.

Justin Brown, the president of the Brookline Educators’ Union, declined to comment on the incident.

Seems to me that if we keep having teachers making mistakes with flammable solvents, we will continue to have injured students. It's a shame America can't seem to stop this from happening.