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Brookline High School evacuated over hazardous materials situation

Brookline High School evacuated over hazardous materials situation
>> I HAVE MET SITUATION SINCE FOR PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. -- I HAZMAT SITUATION SENDING STAFF AND STUDENTS TO THE HOSPITAL. >> WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE TAKEN AFTER THE DISTRICT TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER THE DISTRICT SAYS THEY WERE EXPOSED TO A CHEMICAL IRRITANT, IN THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING RIGHT BEHIND ME. FROM SKY FIVE, YOU CAN SEE THE CROWDS OF STUDENTS STANDING OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DISTRICT SAYS A CHEMICAL IRRITANT WASA FOUND INSIDE THE BUILDING NEAR A -- IRRITANT WAS FOUND INSIDE THE BUILDING NEAR FIRST-FLOOR BATHROOM CLOSE TO THE CAFETERIA. STUDENTS TELL ME IT WAS RIGHT AROUND LUNCH TIME WHEN AN ALARM WENT OFF, AND THEY LEFT THE BUILDING. SOME TELL ME EVERYONE STAYED CALM EVEN WHEN THEY SAW EMERGENCY CREWS. >> THAT KIND OF ESCALATED A BUNCH OF FIRE TRUCKS, AMBULANCES, POLICE. >> HAZMAT CREWS FROM BOSTON, ALONG WITH BROOKLINE FIREFIGHTERS, VENTED AND CLEANED THE BUILDING, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING STUDENTS TO GO BACK INSIDE TO GRAB THEIR THINGS. CLASSES WERE CANCELLED AS THE SITUATION UNFOLDED. I’VE REACHED OUT TO THE DISTRI
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Brookline High School evacuated over hazardous materials situation
Classes ended early Thursday at Brookline High School, where officials said they were responding to a hazardous materials situation.In a statement, the district said staff was alerted to a "chemical irritant" that was found near a first-floor bathroom, close to the cafeteria, in the 115 Greenough Street building. All students and staff were evacuated at approximately 11:47 a.m. Sky5 flew over the campus shortly after 1 p.m. and saw large numbers of students outside, along with ambulances and Brookline Fire Department vehicles.At least two students and two staff members were taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment, the district said. The Brookline Police Department confirmed the response was due to a hazmat situation and that school will remain closed for the rest of the day. After everything was ventilated and deemed safe, students were allowed back into the building to collect their belongings. Parents were told to pick up their students on Lowell Road or Greenough Street, police said. All other traffic was asked to avoid the area. "It's strange," said student Jerry Yang. "It's never happened before but the school administration did a great job getting us out safely and orderly."

Classes ended early Thursday at Brookline High School, where officials said they were responding to a hazardous materials situation.

In a statement, the district said staff was alerted to a "chemical irritant" that was found near a first-floor bathroom, close to the cafeteria, in the 115 Greenough Street building. All students and staff were evacuated at approximately 11:47 a.m.

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Sky5 flew over the campus shortly after 1 p.m. and saw large numbers of students outside, along with ambulances and Brookline Fire Department vehicles.

At least two students and two staff members were taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment, the district said.

The Brookline Police Department confirmed the response was due to a hazmat situation and that school will remain closed for the rest of the day. After everything was ventilated and deemed safe, students were allowed back into the building to collect their belongings.

Parents were told to pick up their students on Lowell Road or Greenough Street, police said. All other traffic was asked to avoid the area.

"It's strange," said student Jerry Yang. "It's never happened before but the school administration did a great job getting us out safely and orderly."