NYC chemistry teacher mishandled volatile chemicals, creating fireball: probe

A careless New York City chemistry teacher recklessly handled a jug of combustible chemicals, creating a fireball that melted a students ear, an investigation has found.

The probe into the chemistry demonstration gone horribly awry at Beacon High School on Jan. 2 determined that teacher Anna Poole poured methanol from a one-gallon bottle into four separate Petri dishes containing nitrates that had been aflame only moments prior, according to a report released Thursday by the Education Departments investigative arm.

The flammable liquid immediately erupted, flying across the classroom at the elite Upper West Side school.

A fireball like a blow torch erupted and shot across the room. Poole did not hear anything, but saw a white flame shoot across the room, and then Student A was on fire, the Special Commissioner of Investigation report said.

That student, Alonzo Yanes, 16, suffered second- and third-degree burns to his face, neck and torso, according to the report.

School custodian Dimitri Stefanopoulos rushed to the classroom to find the student with a melted left ear and a hole in his shirt, according to the report.

He looked like a victim from a battlefield, Stefanopoulos told investigators.

A second 16-year-old student, Julia Saltonstall, received less serious burns on her forearms.

Only Poole wore protective goggles during the explosive experiment, according to the report.

Beacon biology and chemistry teacher Thomas Covotsos who called 911 and attempted to put out the flames torching Yanes told Stefanopoulos his colleague made critical mistakes in the experiment, according to the report.

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NYC chemistry teacher mishandled volatile chemicals, creating fireball: probe