Officials investigating WSU Tri-Cities lab fire

Washington State University Tri-Cities and fire officials are still investigating the fire that has shut down a research building on the campus and led to the temporary clearing of two other buildings Monday afternoon.

The fire was in a laboratory in the Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Lab, or BSEL. A chemical processing reactor failed, releasing flammable gas that was ignited and burned in and around a chemical fume hood.

Fire sprinklers contained the blaze to that lab though neighboring rooms had water and smoke damage.

Not all students in the adjacent East and West buildings were evacuated during the incident, only those in classrooms with windows facing the BSEL.

“It was determined that evacuating all buildings would not be wise because it may put students, staff and faculty in greater danger than keeping them protected within a building,” a release said.

BSEL remains closed as the fire is investigated. Students who have classes or labs in the building should check with their instructors on classroom arrangements, with the plan to temporarily move those classes to the Consolidated Information Center on campus.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Officials investigating WSU Tri-Cities lab fire."