Mar 23, 2009 12:49 pm US/Central
Chlorine Spill Evacuates Senn High School
Spill Happened In Swimming Pool Area In Edgewater Neighborhood School
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A chlorine spill Monday prompted firefighters to evacuate Senn High School in the Edgewater neighborhood.
A Level 1 Hazardous Materials situation was called about 10:45 a.m. at Senn High School at 5900 N. Glenwood Ave., according to Fire Media Affairs spokesman Quention Curtis.
The building was evacuated by school staff as a precaution and about 1,500 students walked to the Broadway Armory, where they are "safe and warm," Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.
A 30-gallon container of chlorine was emitting vapors, making the air in the pool area unsafe, Langford said. Staff was apparently trying to move the container when the fumes began emitting.
The HazMat team pumped the chemical into another container. After the air is deemed safe in the pool area, students will be allowed to return. The air in the rest of the school is safe, Langford said.
The HazMat was secured about 12:30 p.m. and students should be allowed to return to the school in about 30 minutes, Langford said.
Senn High School enrolls students from at least 60 countries, in their own estimation. The school also houses the Rickover Naval Academy.
The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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