Exhaust fumes cause Oakland Elementary evacuation
Published 9:30 pm Thursday, November 21, 2024
Med Center EMS treat approximately 98 Oakland Elementary teachers, students and faculty members affected by exhaust fumes from an HVAC unit on the roof that tripped the unit’s internal safety system, blowing the fumes inside the building, after they were relocated to Oakland Baptist Church for medical treatment on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Smiths Grove Police, Med Center Health EMS, Bowling Green Fire and other first responders. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Oakland Elementary students, teachers and faculty were evacuated from the school and relocated to Oakland Baptist Church for medical treatment after numerous people claimed to feel unwell due to an HVAC unit on the roof blowing exhaust fumes inside the building on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Smiths Grove Police, Med Center Health EMS, Bowling Green Fire and other first responders. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Med Center EMS treat approximately 98 Oakland Elementary teachers, students and faculty members affected by exhaust fumes from an HVAC unit on the roof that tripped the unit’s internal safety system, blowing the fumes inside the building, after they were relocated to Oakland Baptist Church for medical treatment on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Smiths Grove Police, Med Center Health EMS, Bowling Green Fire and other first responders. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Concerned parents file into Oakland Baptist Church where their children were evacuated from Oakland Elementary for medical treatment after numerous teachers, students and faculty members claimed to feel unwell due to an HVAC unit on the roof blowing exhaust fumes inside the building on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Smiths Grove Police, Med Center Health EMS, Bowling Green Fire and other first responders. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Oakland Elementary students, teachers and faculty were evacuated from the school and relocated to Oakland Baptist Church for medical treatment after numerous people claimed to feel unwell due to an HVAC unit on the roof blowing exhaust fumes inside the building on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Smiths Grove Police, Med Center Health EMS, Bowling Green Fire and other first responders. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
The Bowling Green Fire Department assists in clearing all exhaust fumes from Oakland Elementary after all students, teachers and faculty were evacuated from the school and relocated to Oakland Baptist Church for medical treatment due to an HVAC unit on the roof blowing exhaust fumes inside the building on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Smiths Grove Police, Med Center Health EMS, Bowling Green Fire and other first responders. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Oakland Elementary students, teachers and faculty were evacuated from the school and relocated to Oakland Baptist Church for medical treatment after numerous people claimed to feel unwell due to an HVAC unit on the roof blowing exhaust fumes inside the building on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Smiths Grove Police, Med Center Health EMS, Bowling Green Fire and other first responders. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Med Center EMS treat approximately 98 Oakland Elementary teachers, students and faculty members affected by exhaust fumes from an HVAC unit on the roof that tripped the unit’s internal safety system, blowing the fumes inside the building, after they were relocated to Oakland Baptist Church for medical treatment on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Smiths Grove Police, Med Center Health EMS, Bowling Green Fire and other first responders. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Students and teachers were evacuated late Thursday morning from Oakland Elementary School after exhaust fumes from a rooftop HVAC unit blew into the building.
About 98 students and staff at Oakland experienced mild symptoms from the exhaust and were evaluated by medical personnel at Oakland Baptist Church, the gathering site for people evacuated from the nearby school, according to Warren County Public Schools.
In an e-mailed statement, the county school district said that WCPS and Oakland officials were notified about the potential smell of gas inside the elementary school, leading to a response from the district’s maintenance department and Deputy Steve Chappell, director of school safety.
The maintenance department learned that exhaust fumes from an HVAC unit on the school’s roof tripped the unit’s internal safety system, and fumes blew into the building, causing the smell.
Despite initial concerns of a gas leak, workers with Atmos Energy confirmed that there was no gas leak at any point, WCPS said.
Atmos Energy workers, members of the Bowling Green Fire Department and WCPS maintenance crews cleared the school building of all exhaust fumes, and the district announced that the building was deemed safe for use and school would resume Friday.
At the church, parents and guardians of students were guided by school officials as they picked up their children.
Med Center EMS workers were on hand to evaluate people experiencing symptoms, and members of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Emergency Management and Smiths Grove Police Department were also on site.
