A volatile acid caused emergency officials to close one Ohio University building and several roadways Friday.
Athens Fire Department was called to OU's Life Science Research Facility at 9:23 a.m. after a bottle of crystallized Picric acid was found, Athens Fire Captain Ken Gilbraith said.
When crystallized, the acid becomes potentially explosive, according to an emergency alert on the OU website.
Emergency officials evacuated the building as a precautionary measure
said Joe Adams, director of environmental health and safety.
Picric acid is a pale yellow, odorless crystal that is very sensitive to friction and heat.
The Columbus bomb squad was called and arrived at 12:20 p.m., Gilbraith said.
Bomb squad officials wanted to detonate the acid in the research facility, but OU environmental health and safety officials vetoed the idea, said Chad Keller, an environmental health coordinator.
At 3:30 p.m., the bomb squad - escorted by Athens police, local fire officials, OU environmental health and safety officials, OU police and the Ohio Highway Patrol - transported the acid from the research facility to The Ridges.
Local police and highway patrol cleared the roads. They notified people to stay at least 600 feet away or toward the back of their homes and away from windows as the bomb squad drove along Union Street to State Route 682 and finally, to The Ridges.
The Life Science Research Facility was re-opened at 4:15 p.m., Adams said. Everything is back to normal he added.
Once the bomb squad reached The Ridges, they dug a four-foot hole in the ground, placed an explosive charge on the acid and detonated the charge, destroying the chemical, Gilbraith said.
The acid was disposed of by 4:50 p.m., and no injuries were reported, he said.
@ThePostCampus
1
News
Caitlin Bowling
