[Vision2020] UI students recovering after explosion

Moscow Cares moscowcares at moscow.com
Sat Apr 15 01:09:09 PDT 2017


Courtesy of today's (April 15, 2017) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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UI students recovering after explosion
Agencies investigating many aspects of rocket fuel explosion outside steam plant

The four University of Idaho students injured when the rocket fuel they were testing exploded Thursday night in a parking lot east of the university steam plant have all been upgraded to good condition or released from Gritman Medical Center in Moscow.

Gritman President and CEO Kara Besst said Friday that three of the students were in good condition - which she added means their vital signs are stable and they are conscious and comfortable - and the fourth had been released.

Three of the injured students are enrolled in the College of Engineering and are part of a UI organization called Northwest Organization of Rocket Engineers. As part of the test they were performing, the fuel, which is being designed for model rockets, was placed in a galvanized metal pipe, 8 to 12 inches in length and about 1.5 inches in diameter, and ignited, causing the unexpected explosion, which was heard throughout town. Dan Ewart, UI vice president for infrastructure, emphasized that the intention of the experiment was not to launch a rocket into the air but to test the rocket fuel.

Grant Thurman, a member of NORE, said the student who lit the fuel was wearing a face shield and those watching the experiment were wearing eye protection.

Ewart said the university and other agencies investigating are trying to determine how many people were present in the parking lot at the time of the explosion.

"The safety of our entire Vandal family is always our utmost concern," Ewart said. "We wish the injured students a full recovery and will continue to keep the community informed of updates as they're available."

Ewart said a faculty member was present at the experiment, and he said the UI rocket club is a sanctioned university group, although an investigation into whether the event was sanctioned is being conducted.

The university is cooperating with local law enforcement and its investigation, Ewart said. The UI will be conducting a thorough review of the incident also, he said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are involved in the investigation. The Moscow Police Department is also investigating, but Chief James Fry said there is not a criminal investigation taking place.

Two Vandal Alerts were issued Thursday night and Friday morning informing students and other community members of the incident. The first alert was sent out 53 minutes after the incident was reported to local law enforcement at 9:52 p.m.

Jodi Walker, UI director of communications, said the university checks the safety and condition of students, staff and faculty first, makes sure the scene is secure and then communicates the situation to the public. She said she believes the university handled the situation properly and in a timely fashion.

Ewart indicated Friday morning that all four students were out of surgery and recovering. During a Thursday night news conference, Ewart said three of the students were in stable condition and one was in critical condition. Ewart said university officials spoke with all four students and their parents Thursday night and Friday morning.

Ewart said he did not have information on the extent of the students' injuries, and the identities of the students have not been released at the request of the students.

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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
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