A chemistry experiment injured three students and triggered an evacuation at Somers High School Tuesday afternoon, emergency officials said.

Tolland County Mutual Aid dispatchers received a report of a flash fire at the school at about 12:30 p.m., executive director Tyler Millix said. Somers Fire Chief John Roache later said firefighters responded to smoke in one of the chemistry labs and found that a student was working on an experiment when something went wrong "and it reacted similar to a small smoke bomb."

Three students reported minor injuries either burns smoke inhalation and were all released to their parents, Roache said. The fire department also turned off all equipment in the area and ventilated the building, he said.

State troopers also responded, but had cleared by 2:30 p.m. Workers from the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection also went to the school, located at 5 Vision Blvd., to check the air quality with their metering equipment, Roache said.

Students left school at the regular dismissal time, 2:15 p.m., according to an email administrators sent to parents.

Nearly all after-school activities were canceled and students, faculty and staff were not allowed back in the building following dismissal, the email said.

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Chemistry Experiment Injures Students, Forces Evacuation At ... - Hartford Courant