Small explosion prompts Chicago police station evacuation

CHICAGO (AP) - A Chicago police station was briefly evacuated Friday morning after a small explosion in a computer room. No injuries were reported.

The explosion occurred around 3:10 a.m. on the second floor of the Central District station in the South Loop, setting off a small electrical fire, police said.

The room has a system that disperses gas to control fires, the Chicago Fire Department said. It called a brief hazardous materials alert as firefighters checked the room.

Officers were evacuated from the station as fire crews aired the room out, police said. About 20 minutes later, the room was deemed safe and officers were allowed back in.

Police spokesman Hector Alfaro tells the Chicago Tribune that no officers or detainees in a lockup were in any danger from the explosion.