Investigators with the Tulsa Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms found the cause of the fire at the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences to be accidental and the origin to be the installation site of a vent in a lab area, according to a news release Friday.

On Sept. 5, a three-alarm fire gutted the school, which is located at 2324 E. 17th St.

Tulsa Public Schools leased the empty building to the charter high school earlier this year. Barnard Elementary School was closed as part of the district's efficiency effort Project Schoolhouse.

Two explosions erupted within an hour of when crews arrived on scene and began an interior attack on the blaze.

Eight firefighters suffered burn injuries to their face, legs and back. Three were hospitalized overnight.

Investigators say the explosions were caused by an increase in oxygen to fuel the fire -- a backdraft -- after firefighters entered the schools chemistry lab.

Read more in Saturdays Tulsa World.

Read the original:
Construction ruled cause of fire at Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences

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