Lithium Beaker Explodes, Ignites Fire At Cal State Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA – The Engineering and Computer Science building at Cal State Long Beach was evacuated Tuesday afternoon after a fire caused by a chemical reaction broke out Tuesday, according to authorities. Some lithium in a beaker exploded and caused a fire about 1:20 p.m. in Building 86 at the university at 1250 Bellflower Blvd., according to Jake Heflin of the Long Beach Fire Department.

Long Beach Police Department fire crews were at the scene around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to an LBPD official. The fire was knocked down by 1:50 p.m., Heflin said, but crews remained at the scene ventilating the building, which was evacuated.

School officials asked students and faculty to evacuate the building and stay out of the area, according to the CSULB student newspaper the Daily 49er.

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