Newark School Gas Leak Update

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Created on Thursday, 15 October 2015 16:44
Written by Dan Reynolds

NewarkNEWARK – 70 Students were evacuated from the Newark School Wednesday morning after a propane leak was discovered.  Students were in the gym for lunch when the principal received a call from the school secretary, who noticed the suspicious odor.

The leak was traced back to a bad connection in the kitchen oven.  Principal Pat Ely placed a 9-1-1 call, and students were quickly moved from the gymnasium to the school's evacuation center, where they were provided lunch and then dismissed.  Volunteer firefighters from West Burke and Newark responded and no injuries were reported.

Ely says that the evacuation went very smoothly and that students were able to make it to the evacuation center in less than five minutes. He also added that he did not have to sound the fire alarm until after the students had been evacuated since they were already gathered in the gym.

The leak was fixed Wednesday evening around 4:00pm by the Amerigas Company. Students were able to return to school Thursday morning.