Employee on leave after Reno museum fire
RENO — An employee at a Reno science museum has been placed on leave after firefighters concluded her error during a tornado demonstration led to a flash fire that injured 13 people.
Officials at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum said the unnamed employee will be off the job until a full investigation is completed.
Reno fire officials said a three- to five-second blaze erupted Wednesday after the employee poured alcohol on a cotton ball that had been dusted with boric acid and partially ignited.
Officials said the alcohol is supposed to be applied before the boric acid and the flame.
The demonstration is designed to create a small green fire tornado.
Nine people were treated at Renown Regional Medical Center, but all were released within 24 hours of the fire.