An explosion has rocked the Henry Wellcome Building, on the University of Leicester campus, with a room incinerated in a fire and one person has been taken to hospital
An “explosion” at the University of Leicester has led to a fire breaking out and a room incinerated in the blaze with one person taken to hospital.
Emergency services rushed to the site around 11.50am on Tuesday after receiving reports of a fire in the Henry Wellcome Building of the university campus.
According to a Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman, it was an accidental blaze ignited by a leaky gas canister connection to a Bunsen burner. The leak caused nearby paper to catch fire, leading to a minor explosion involving a small camping cylinder.
Further details about what happened have not so far been disclosed. The spokeswoman detailed that the first-floor room was consumed by the fire but fortunately, no injuries were reported. One individual was transported to the hospital as a safety measure.
A spokesperson for the University of Leicester commented: “The impact is being assessed and there is some localised damage. One staff member has been taken to hospital as a precaution,” reported Leicestershire Live.
Concern for the people on the campus has come first said the spokesperson for the university, who stated: “The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students is our highest priority and the building has been evacuated while a full investigation is carried out.” Following the incident, the fire service confirmed that responsibility for the matter had been transferred to the university’s estates team.
The university states that the Henry Wellcome Building was constructed at a cost of £22.5 million and opened in 2006 making it one of the most modern on the campus. It is where the Molecular and Cell Biology department is situated. It said on its website: “The Henry Wellcome Building is one of the most modern buildings on campus.
“Opened in 2006, the £22.5 million building was designed by Fairhurst Design group and is home to two of John Syndey Carter’s incredible sculptures ‘Atomica’ and ‘Vortex’. The Department of Molecular and Cell Biology is almost wholly accommodated within the Henry Wellcome Building, with access to outstanding teaching and research facilities.”
