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Some school staff members and students were hospitalized Wednesday after a gas leak outside of an elementary school in Lavon.
Firefighters responded to a call a little before noon about a gas leak outside Phyliss NeSmith Elementary School, the Lavon Fire Department said. The leak was related to a construction project on the school campus. Lavon is located about 35 miles northeast of downtown Dallas.
A Community ISD spokeswoman told KXAS-TV (NBC) the gas leak occurred at an area outside the main building of the school, where a gas line was being added to a tornado shelter and classrooms being built.
The leak was contained within 15 minutes and no gas readings were found within the school by the fire department or Atmos Energy.
Atmos Energy and Lavon Fire Department tested multiple sites inside the school and did not detect any gas inside, said Cooper Welch, a Community ISD spokesperson.
Welch said the school district consulted with medical experts and first responders examined a few staff members. Some staff members then asked to be transported to a hospital.A few students later reported effects from the gas leak, Welch added.
The fire department said some school staff members and students were transported to hospitals for further evaluation. KDFW-TV (Fox) is reporting nine staff members and two students were affected.
The district told parents all students and staff are safe and they could pick up their children early from the school if they would like. Bus routes for the school operated at normal times Wednesday.
The gas is still turned off at the elementary school, said Community ISD Superintendent Tonya Knowlton in a letter Wednesday evening. She said the gas will not be turned back on until all gas-powered equipment and all lines are checked and an inspection is completed by city officials.
Knowlton said the district is canceling classes the rest of the week for Phyliss NeSmith Elementary School.
“With the gas turned off, our HVAC systems and kitchen appliances do not work,” Knowlton wrote. “Due to this constriction and to allow professionals to properly check the facilities, we are canceling school at NeSmith Elementary for Thursday and Friday.”