McBride Students Caught in Smoke

Thursday, March 22, 2007 05:15 PM

Forty nine students at McBride Secondary School were taken to hospital earlier today when the school filled with smoke.

School District 57 Superintendent Brian Pepper says the incident happened around 9:30 this morning when there was a chemical reaction between a clay type art project that was placed in a warm oven to harden and residue from a cleaning product that had been used on the oven the day before.

The reaction filled part of the school with smoke.

Staff and students followed the direction of fire officials and evacuated the school. 49 students were taken to McBride Hosptial where they were assessed, some were given oxygen, and then discharged. Extra helath care professionals from the BC AMbulance Service and Northern Health, responded to help in the situation, as other staff and students were taken to a local church for health assessments.

Students and staff have been advised to make sure they wash any clothing they were wearing during the exposure to the smoke and to make sure they have a shower to clean off any possible smoke residue.

School District staff say they have been working closely with Northern Health the BC Ambulance Service and the Provincial Emegency Program personnel to ensure the well being of all students and staff.

The school’s ventilation sysystem is being monitored closely to ensure any harmful fumes have been removed and air quality levels are back to normal before the school reopens.

Superintendent Brian Pepper is on his way to McBride and says special monitoring equipment is also on its way. "We expect to do another test at about 5:00 tomorrow morning and then we will make a decision about whether or not the school will be reopened."

Pepper says it isn't known what type of gas was created although there is speculation it may have been excessive amounts of carbon dioxide, or carbon monoxide. "We just aren't certain at this point" says Pepper who adds some students exhibited symptoms of nausea, dizziness and drowziness.

The investigation into the incident will continue tomorrow.

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