LOCAL NEWS

BYU students displaced after ‘homemade rocket fuel’ explodes

Feb 21, 2022, 9:39 AM | Updated: Jun 13, 2022, 4:45 pm

PROVO, Utah — Nearly two dozen students at Brigham Young University have been displaced after five pounds of homemade rocket fuel exploded and tripped the building’s fire sprinkler system.

Crews from the BYU Police Department and Provo Fire & Rescue responded to Heritage Halls building No. 4 Sunday around 4:30 p.m. after the building’s fire alarm went off.

Police said investigators learned a resident in the dorm “had been making homemade rocket fuel on the stove when the volatile mixture suddenly exploded into a fireball.”

The 22-year-old man wasn’t injured but did have some singed arm hair, police said.

“We was in the unit with a roommate,” said Lt. Jeff Long with BYU Police. “He was close to the ignition and was able to get out of the way as the, it was like a fireball that kind of crept up the wall and up onto the ceiling.”

(BYU Police Department) (BYU Police Department) (BYU Police Department) (BYU Police Department) (BYU Police Department) (BYU Police Department)

The heat from the explosion triggered the building’s sprinkler system, which flooded dorms on the first floor. Because of the water damage, 22 students have been relocated while repairs take place.

“It’s very serious when you’re talking life and death and criminal charges and the expense of repairs,” Long said. “So not something that we definitely want to laugh off.”

The fire department said the damage is estimated at $75,000.

“It doesn’t look like there was anything nefarious in this,” Long said. “I think it was just a curiosity thing.”

BYU Police reminded on social media that science experiments need to take place in the lab, not in the dorms.

“It is clear that this situation could have been much worse and we are grateful that no one was injured,” BYU Police said in a Facebook post. “We urge students to be aware of circumstances around them and consider how their actions have the potential to effect not just themselves, but others as well.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

A UDOT snowplow clears the road in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Feb. 9. Up to 2 feet of snow or more is...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Rain, snow to impact many parts of Utah throughout Easter weekend

It might be spring, but winter weather remains in Utah's forecast for Easter weekend as the end of the traditional snowpack collection period nears.

3 minutes ago

Man being taken on stretcher to an ambulance figures blurred...

Lauren Steinbrecher

West Jordan man trying ‘to be funny’ allegedly shot and killed best friend

Investigators believe a joke between friends turned into the shooting death of a West Jordan man. The fatal mistake is also turning into a message police hope every gun owner can hear.

10 hours ago

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

11 hours ago

small housing units...

Debbie Worthen

Utah’s micro-shelter pilot program gets extension to help homeless

A micro-shelter pilot program will stay in place for at least six more months.

11 hours ago

A trench used for training a team of firefighters to be a part of Utah County's Special Response Te...

Shelby Lofton

Heavy Rescue school students respond to real-life emergency during trench collapse training

A team of firefighter students training to be on a Special Response Team rescued a man buried in a trench collapse the week they'd been studying trenches.

11 hours ago

The Cache County Council took up the e-mail controversy...

Mike Anderson

A single text stirs political fallout in Cache County election

A text message is blowing up into a whole lot of political fallout in Cache County.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

BYU students displaced after ‘homemade rocket fuel’ explodes