Dec 4, 2008 3:44 pm US/Central
Chemical Spill Prompts Evacuation Of High School
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
A hazardous materials spill caused a minor explosion in a science lab Thursday afternoon, prompting a brief evacuation of a northwest suburban high school.
About 12:50 p.m., students and faculty at Hoffman Estates High at 1100 W. Higgins Rd. were sent outside in response to a fire alarm prompted by a chemical reaction, according to an alert on the school Web site. Students were later transferred to the gymnasium.
No students were injured, but two staff members were sent to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates as a precaution, according to a joint release from the Hoffman Estates Police and Fire departments.
One of them inhaled vapors and was expected to be released from the hospital Thursday afternoon, Fire Chief Robert Gorvett said.
The spill occurred when someone dumped an unknown chemical into a sink in a science lab. The chemical reacted with water in the drain trap and caused the drain pipe to blow open. The small explosion knocked over some household cleaning chemicals, which spilled onto the floor of the lab, according to Gorvett.
The incident occurred in a "non-student preparation area" being cleaned and packed for a scheduled move due to an upcoming construction project. The chemical reaction caused a vapor cloud that activated a smoke detector, but no students were in the room at the time, the release said.
Crews isolated the area where the spill occurred and a private "HazMat mitigation team" was contacted. That team will work Thursday evening to clean up the area and return it to a safe condition. The area is expected to re-open by Friday morning, the chief said.
After crews conducted air quality samples, students and staff were allowed to re-enter the school and dismissal occurred on time, the release said.
Students whose lockers are outside the isolated areas were allowed to retrieve belongings, while those with lockers inside the isolation area were taken to their homes by bus since they were unable to retrieve coats and other items, according to Gorvett.
All after-school activities were being conducted as scheduled, the Web alert said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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