At 3:30 this afternoon, emergency officials will transport an unstable acid to The Ridges, where a Columbus bomb squad will dispose of the compound.
Ohio University officials evacuated the Life Science Research Facility earlier today after a bottle of crystallized Picric acid was found, according to an emergency alert on the OU website. When crystallized, the acid becomes shock sensitive and possibly explosive, the alert stated.
OU evacuated the building as a precautionary measure
said Joe Adams, director of environmental health and safety. We've got the situation well in hand he added.
No one was harmed and the bottle was not spilled, the alert stated.
Police have begun notifying people to stay at least 600 feet away or toward the back of their homes and away from windows as emergency vehicles escort the bomb squad along Union St. to State Route 682 and finally, to The Ridges.
The Athens Fire Department, OU police, OU environmental health and safety officials and the bomb squad were all called to the scene.
Adams said he expects the facility to reopen as soon as the emergency vehicles clear the facility's parking lot.
@ThePostCampus
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Caitlin Bowling
