Lansdale Borough Fire Marshal Rick Lesniak has released information
regarding a Monday morning gas leak at Lansdale Catholic High School that
ultimately led to classes being cancelled for the day.
First responders were dispatched to the school, located at
the intersection of Lansdale Avenue and West Seventh Street, at 9:13 a.m. for a
report of an odor of natural gas inside of the building. Arriving firefighters
from Fairmount and Colmar fire companies encountered a natural gas odor on the
second floor of the school, forcing students and staff to evacuate as a precaution.
While speaking with the president of the school, Lesniak
said crews learned a science teacher had been instructing students using Bunsen
burners, but once the odor was detected, the teacher activated the emergency
gas shut-off for the classroom, triggering the evacuation.
“Due to the size of the building and the need to quickly get
the students out of the cold weather, additional assistance was requested from
the Fire Department of Montgomery Township,” Lesniak said.
Crews searched the building using multi-gas detection
meters, while using fans to ventilate the classroom where the odor originated.
Once the building was deemed safe, students and faculty were moved back inside
into the gymnasium.
“Out of an abundance of caution, Lansdale Catholic staff
decided to cancel classes for the remainder of the day,” Lesniak said. “A
plumber was called to further investigate the cause and location of the gas
leak.”
No injuries were reported among first responders, students,
or staff, Lesniak said.
The scene was cleared at 10:35 a.m.
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