4 students hurt, at least 1 seriously, in lab fire

Authorities say four students suffered burns and at least one had serious injuries from a fire in a Denver school chemistry laboratory.

Denver Fire Department spokesman Mark Watson says the fire broke out Monday at Strive Prep School’s Lalo Delgado campus in southwestern Denver. The cause was under investigation, but Watson says it appears the fire was accidental.

Watson says at least some of the students had burns to their faces and upper chests.

He says the fire appeared to have burned itself out and didn’t spread beyond the lab.

The blaze set off school alarms, prompting an evacuation. Watson says students have returned to classes.

Watson says he believes a teacher was in the lab at the time. Firefighters received the alarm shortly before 8 a.m.