Gas odor prompts evacuation at J.P. Stevens High School

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
Gas odor prompts evacuation at J.P. Stevens High School

Edison Fire Department trucks are seen at the front of J.P. Stevens High School responding to a suspected gas leak. ZFJ/Kirby Kim

EDISON, N.J., Feb. 1 (ZFJ) — A suspected gas leak resulted in the evacuation of J.P. Stevens High School students and staff on Thursday, Feb. 1, according to the school district.

An odor of gas near the art and music wing and in the back of the building caused the evacuation, which, according to a ZFJ reporter, began around the start of third period.

The Edison Fire Department and Elizabethtown Gas Company concluded that a construction crew hit an inactive gas line that still had residual gas remaining in it, resulting in the odor, according to a statement by Edison Township Public Schools.

Once cleared to do so by the fire department, students and staff returned to the building and continued the school day. They had been outside for about 15 minutes.

References