Bayfield Elementary Primary School (BEPS) west building was evacuated Tuesday morning because of a possible natural gas leak.
A parent smelled gas outside the cafeteria in the west building about 9:45 a.m., said School District Transportation Director Jeff Whitmore
Upper Pine Fire responded and blocked off the street.
There were a few teachers and other staff members in the west building, and they were evacuated, he said. Children were all in the east building and were not evacuated. "We bussed all the hot lunch kids to the elementary school and then bussed them back," he said. Students at the primary school usually eat lunch in the cafteria next to the old gym.
About 11:30 a.m., Source Gas spokeswoman Theresa Donnelly said they had a technician at the scene, and he hadn't found any leak. But snow and ice build-up around the gas meter could have caused an increase of the odorant used in gas, she said.
As of about 11:45 a.m., Donnelly reported that the all clear had been given.
"We'll take a look at the meter and make sure everything is good there," she said. "We take these things seriously."
She urged gas customers to clear snow and ice from around their meters. If they smell gas, they should leave the building or area and call 911.
Whitmore said regular programming, classes like art and music, would resume in the west building at 1 p.m. Tuesday. "There was never any leak. Just the smell," he said.
