By Thia James

Sturgeon Lake school kids sent home after suspected gas leak

Oct 11, 2013 | 4:36 PM

Students and staff at the Sturgeon Lake Central School on the Sturgeon Lake First Nation north of Prince Albert were sent home early Friday afternoon after a “rotten egg” smell was detected.

Nearly 500 students attend the daycare-to-Grade 12 school, and all were evacuated and told to go home at around noon. The smell was first detected by staff mid-morning, when kids were already in class. Administration was informed, as were the authorities, as the smell began to permeate throughout the building.

One of the officials called in was Jeff McLeod. The emergency planning team co-ordinator got the call from the school that there was a rotten egg smell, possibly a propane leak. He was told by a Buckland Fire and Rescue official the school needed to be evacuated, and the evacuation took place.

“We waited for Buckland [Fire and Rescue] and the RCMP to go through the building with their air detectors to detect if there [was] any propane leak or natural gas or a chemical spill. We couldn’t. We weren’t too sure because we don’t have any of … [that] equipment. So we called them and they came and they did a thorough job and made sure it was OK.”

The school was closed as a precaution, and students will be returning to class on Tuesday, after the Thanksgiving long-weekend.

Corrections

Union representing federal correctional officers says violence in the workplace on the rise

1h ago

LETTING IT OUT!

Ready to bloom: Poetry event in P.A. hopes to inspire youth to share their heart

1h ago

Trial proceedings

Man charged after violent assault at Prince Albert jail, cleared of any wrongdoing

23h ago

Officials don’t have a definitive cause for the strong odour. McLeod said representatives from Federated Co-op would be investigating the cause of the leak. He will be doing a thorough check throughout the building of propane tanks and propane lines.

McLeod said the cause is believed to be gas-related. “Because it had a strong smell of rotten eggs throughout the building… I went and shut off all the propane tanks as soon as I smelled it.”

The odour left some with headaches and nausea. “Some staff were complaining of headaches, nausea, so, and that’s related to the smell of natural gas too.”

The evacuation of the school was completed after noon.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames