Teacher charged over chemistry explosion

DENVER -- A new Denver teacher has been charged with assault after an explosion that injured students in his chemistry class, reports CBS Denver.

The teacher, Daniel Powell, 22, is charged with four counts of third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, after allegedly pouring methanol on a small fire during class. The chemicals caused flames to shoot out, injuring four students, reports the station.

According to CBS Denver, the incident occurred Sept. 15 at a school known as the SMART Academy.

"The teacher was just not happy with the size of the methanol flame that he had and he was trying to make it bigger," U.S. Chemical Safety Board Incident Investigator Dan Tillema told the station. Tillema is reportedly investigating the incident, as well as several others around the country.

The board said that Powell, a first-year teacher, did not have sufficient training to handle methanol or understand its flammable characteristics.

The DA said Powell's negligence caused harm to the students.

Powell has reportedly since been fired from Denver Public Schools.