Small Chemical Explosion At Fox News Building In Midtown Manhattan

Apparently a small amount of acid was improperly mixed and one person was severely burned when the reaction went off. Four floors and at least 700 people were evacuated from the building that houses Fox News New York, the New York Post, Gawker Media, etc.

According to several unconfirmed reports from people working at various companies inside the building, only a few floors were evacuated and the elevators shut down. People inside have been told it is a "smoke condition" not a 'chemical explosion' as was initially reported. They've been told by office managers to 'sit tight'. 

Gawker says they found out about it in an email that sounds, well, scary.

[q
url="http://gawker.com/news/explosion%21/chemical-explosion-at-news-corp-building-hazmat-teams-en-route-334745.php"]New
York Post staffers just got word via panic-inducing NYPD email of a
"chemical explosion" on the 45th floor of their News Corp. office
building. The explosion was "POSSIBLY CAUSED BY OXIDIZERS REACTING WITH
ACID," reads the memo. "HAZMAT TEAMS ARE RESPONDING," and several
surrounding floors have been evacuated.

One person has been injured,
according to a story on the Post's website, which identifies the
explosion as occurring at 1211 Sixth Avenue, "on the 45th floor of a
midtown highrise." This might be one of those times where
self-referentialism is acceptable, guys. You'll be pleased and much
reassured to know that the fire department "HAS BEEN TOLD NOT TO ENTER
THE 45TH FLOOR." Memo after the jump.[/q]

The New York Post is also in that building and posted this on its site:

[q
url="http://www.nypost.com/seven/12172007/news/regionalnews/one_injured_in_midtown_chemical_explosio_541677.htm"]Firefighters
responded to a chemical explosion this morning on the 45th floor of a
midtown highrise.

 
The incident at 1211 Sixth Avenue left one person injured.
Three floors below the site were evacuated. It was unclear what type of
chemical was involved.

 
"The fire department is on the scene and in control of the
building," officials said. The 44th, 43rd and 42nd floors were
evacuated and people were not allowed into the building's lobby.

 
The New York Post's offices are on the 10th floor of 1211 Sixth Avenue.[/q]