Eight children and one adult were injured after a science project exploded at the Discovery Museum downtown, police said.

Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said at a briefing Wednesday that a demonstration that simulates a smoke tornado malfunctioned, which caused a "flash" that "entered" 8 children, burning some of them.

There was no word on degree of burns or other injuries. The injured and other museum patrons were quickly evacuated, he said. The nine injured people were transported to the hospital.

There was some smoke damage to the building, he said.