• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

4 Hurt in UNCC Fire, Blast: 1 Worker Critically Injured As Campus Closes for Day

Posted on: Friday, 14 April 2006, 06:00 CDT

By Melissa Manware, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Apr. 14--A flash fire and explosion 10 feet underground injured four UNC Charlotte electrical workers, one critically, and closed the campus for the day Thursday.

Classes will resume Monday because today is a holiday for students.

The fire happened around 7 a.m. in a manhole on the east side of campus as the workers tried to repair a power outage, said John Bland, a university spokesman.

Power failed across most of the campus around 4 a.m. Thursday. Because UNC Charlotte distributes its own power, its workers attempted to make repairs in a manhole between the Friday and Fretwell buildings, said Marilyn Lineberger, a Duke Energy spokeswoman.

The workers told Duke officials they had rerouted a line. Lineberger said the explosion occurred when Duke energized the line from elsewhere.

Ed Seamon, 52, was climbing out of the manhole when the explosion happened.

Four other electrical workers were standing nearby, according to Tony Hoppa, another spokesman for the university. Four of the men were injured by the fire and flying debris.

Seamon, an electrician who has worked at the university for 19 years, was flown by helicopter from UNCC to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He was later transported to the N.C. Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill with life-threatening injuries. Al McCool, 58, and Jason Shores, 25, were taken to CMC, where they were listed in fair condition late Thursday. Steve Terry, 52, was treated for minor injuries and released. A fifth worker, Phil Meacham, 59, reported no injuries but sought medical attention as a precaution.

On Thursday afternoon, the area between the two buildings was roped off as workers from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and state and local law enforcement conducted investigations.

Charlotte Fire Capt. Rob Brisley said it could take days to determine the cause of the explosion, which some reported hearing a quarter-mile away. The explosion ripped up a brick walkway.

When firefighters arrived, they saw no flames, but smoke billowed from the hole. Most of the classroom buildings were empty, and no students or faculty members were injured.

"Our thoughts remain with Ed Seamon and his family," UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip Dubois said Thursday.

Power was still out across most of the campus late Thursday evening. Most dormitories and at least two cafeterias were not affected by the outage.

UNCC officials said power will not be restored to at least seven buildings today.

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

NYSE:DUK,

Source: The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)

More News in this Category