Police Say NJ High School Science Lab Fire Was A 'Fireball'

"He turned on the match and it just exploded." That's how students described the scene at Eastern High School in Voorhees Monday afternoon after a flash fire broke out in a school science lab.

Six students and a teacher were sent to the hospital.

"A fireball and I can't explain how it happened because I didn't attend the interview with the teacher," said Police Chief Louis Bordi.

"He was shooting water bottles, what he does is he fills them with alcohol and then he lights them," said student Alex Neumann, who took the same class last year.

Fire and rescue crews arrived on scene to find students and teachers injured during a science experiment gone wrong. Students at the school had just finished a fire drill when a second alarm went off.

"People didn't think it was true that a kid caught on fire, but when we saw him getting taken out on a stretcher, we obviously knew it was true," Neumann said.

"Minor damage, with the janitorial staff being able to clean it up, and the classroom being used tomorrow," explained Chief Bordi.

One student, a junior was raced to Cooper University Hospital's Trauma Center in Camden.

"More serious than the others," Bordi said. "The medical personnel thought the injuries were more severe and should have extra attention."

"The kid sitting closest to the desk caught on fire. I heard he had to stop, drop and roll. A lot of kids backpacks caught on fire," another student said.

Fire investigators arrived at the school  to determine the cause as classes and outdoor activities went on.

Students expressed concern for their classmates.

"Actually I know the kid, so it's very upsetting , the kid is a very relaxed kid, he looked fine when he came out, but I hope he gets better," Neumann said.

"You don't really expect anything like that to happen and now you realize you have to pay attention and be aware and careful," another student added.