National

A dorm resident ‘experimenting’ on rocket fuel created a ‘fireball,’ police say



A volatile “homemade rocket fuel” mixture exploded in this Brigham Young University residence. (Brigham Young University Police Department)

By Paulina Firozi
Today at 2:03 p.m. EST

When police and fire crews responded to a blaze caused by an explosion at a Brigham Young University dorm, they found that it had been caused by a resident’s homemade “experiment” — rocket fuel.

The 22-year-old was cooking up about five pounds of a volatile mixture on the stovetop — wanting to experiment after seeing something about it online — when it “suddenly exploded into a fireball,” according to the BYU Police Department. Smoke was billowing out into the hallway, and the “intense heat” from the flames triggered the sprinkler system, flooding a main floor.

“It wasn’t a small amount — it was a potful,” said BYU Police Lt. Jeff Long about what the resident in the Provo, Utah, campus building had been making. “It really could have been catastrophic.” ... There were no injuries, and Long said everyone was “so fortunate it didn’t engulf that entire building.”

Investigators are determining the extent of the damage, but Long estimated that it may cost at least $100,000 for cleanup and kitchen appliance replacements. The male student could be criminally charged with reckless burning or reckless endangerment, Long said, adding that fire and police investigators are discussing potential charges. ... The incident, he said, was “nothing nefarious.” ... “He was just experimenting,” Long said.

{snip}

By Paulina Firozi
Paulina Firozi is a reporter covering national and breaking news. She joined The Washington Post in 2017 and was previously a researcher for PowerPost's The Health 202 and The Energy 202 newsletters. Twitter https://twitter.com/paulina_milla