Saddleback Elementary school evacuated

[mallardisme]

Maricopa Fire is working a reported gas leak at Saddleback Elementary school. The school has been evacuated while FD crews evaluate the scene.

[mallardisme]

MFD reports all students are safe and no injuries have been reported.

[mallardisme]

 MARICOPA FIRE DEPT: Saddleback Update: No gas leak found, crews going avalible, excellent job by the school in handling this even.

[xiØn]

I'm guessing the lunch lady had Mexican for dinner last night.

[mallardisme]

Release from MFD:

                    Fire Crews Respond to a Reported Gas Leak at Saddleback Elementary School

 Maricopa, ARIZ.(January 26, 2012) At 8:50 this morning, Maricopa Fire crews responded to a reported gas leak inside Saddleback Elementary School.  No injuries were reported. School staff did an outstanding job in recognizing the issue and safely evacuated all the students prior to emergency crews arrival.

 School staff working around the kitchen noticed an odor of gas coming from an area near the stoves.  Staff members notified facilities workers and pulled the fire alarm, which prompted the efficient evacuation of the school.

 Maricopa Fire Ladder Truck 571, staffed with Hazardous Materials Technicians, used gas monitors to evaluate the air and tried to pinpoint the origin of the leak. Other fire crews made sure everyone was accounted for and no one was still inside the school.  Southwest Gas emergency response crews also responded and gave the final all clear after a thorough evaluation of the kitchen and gas systems.

 At approximately 9:45am the school was given the all clear and returned to normal operations.

 Maricopa Fire Department would like to recognize the staff at Saddleback Elementary School for conducting a very well organized and fast emergency evacuation.  Although this incident turned out to be minor, in the event of a major incident, having the proper plans in place and executing them in the way they did today will be essential to the safety and welfare of their students.




 Brad R. Pitassi

 Senior Public Information Officer
 Firefighter/Paramedic

 City of Maricopa Fire Department

[xiØn]

In the kitchen. Ha. I was right.

[CopaDave]

My son just came home from Saddleback and was telling me all about his day.

According to him, the lunch ladies smelled something "oily" in the cafeteria.  And some of the other 5th graders reported smelling the same thing during the evacuation.

He brought this note home:

"Dear Parents,

"Today, a gas like odor was reported in the kitchen area of our school at 8:43 AM. We called emergency response and both the fire and police department arrived on the scene immediately. Southwest Gas did a thorough investigation in conjunction with the fire department. A leak was not found; students and staff were cleared to re-enter the building at approximately 10 AM. Please know that the staff and I work diligently each day to ensure that our students are safe. They are indeed our #1 priority. Should you have questions and/or concerns please call me.

"Sincerely,

"Felicia M Williams, Principal."

[mallardisme]

Thanks, Dave. I know you have kids there.

From all accounts, MUSD, MFD and MPD did a great job on the evacuation and the investigation.

A fire drill is one thing, but a gas leak changes the evacuation to a very high level emergency.

Nobody was injured leaving the structure. PD assisted FD on making sure everyone was out of the school.

I saw this kick out. We had a lot of units heading to the school, including units and a hazmat unit from Gilla River. Our public safety model does work.

I am glad to hear this was a non incident. You never truley know how things work until something happens, no matter how much you drill for a specific situation. In this case everything was text book perfect.

[CopaDave]

I am glad to hear this was a non incident. You never truley know how things work until something happens, no matter how much you drill for a specific situation. In this case everything was text book perfect.

It's only a non-incident after the fact.  At the time, it's a "Call The Busses, Evacuate 1/2 Mile Perimeter, Notify the Railroad, Activate the EOC" incident that could leave a big crater in the ground.

As long as they treat every incident like that, they will do fine when it actually does happen.

[Chunk]

Forgive me for saying, but wouldnt they want to explore alternative kitchen staff if the food smells so bad people think there is a gas leak?

[KendoPt4]

Hehe maybe it wasn't the food.  Either way, though...