A middle school science teacher suffered an injury to his hand Tuesday during an outdoor science experiment, according to school and city officials. No one else was injured.

The incident happened at 12:11 p.m. at Col. Fred Cherry Middle School, according to a city news release and a letter sent out to parents by Principal Shawn Green. Suffolk Police and Suffolk Fire & Rescue responded.

Eighth-grade science teacher David Taylor was conducting a chemical reaction experiment on the blacktop behind the school on Burbage Drive for his class and Frances Juguilon’s class, according to the letter, when magnesium unexpectedly ignited during the preapproved science experiment.

“Unfortunately during the experiment, Mr. Taylor was injured when the magnesium ignited unexpectedly before he was able to move away,” Green wrote. “This caused Mr. Taylor to burn his hand and be medically transported to be further evaluated.”

No students were close to the experiment, and there was no damage to school property, the release stated.

“The Fire Department quickly responded to the school to assess the materials used in the experiment to make sure there were no hazardous materials for disposal,” Green’s letter said.

Taylor was taken by ambulance to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening, the release stated.