Durango High School students returned to their classes around 10:30 a.m. Monday after the school was evacuated about 80 minutes earlier because of an odor of natural gas. Utility workers and firefighter found no gas leak at the school.
Durango School District 9-R notified parents at 10:32 a.m. that school had resumed.
Kathy Morris, Durango School District 9-R coordinator of safety and security, said the odor originated in the art wing of the school, at the north end of the building, but neither Atmos Energy crews nor firefighters from the Durango Fire Protection District could locate a gas leak.
Morris said the odor could have originated from outside the building or could have been taken in by air handlers.
There’s a number of reasons why the smell might have originated without a gas leak in the building, she said.
Scott Davis with the Durango Fire Protection District confirmed no gas leak could be located.
The school district issued a nonemergency message to parents, students and staff members of DHS.
The statement read: “Due to the smell of gas in a portion of the building, all students and staff are currently evacuated while Durango Fire investigates the concern. This evacuation is a precautionary measure, and we ask that all community members please stay off campus until we receive the all-clear from Durango Fire. We will keep families updated through our reverse notification system on our website at durangoschools.org and through our information line at 970-375-3811. Thank you.”
parmijo@durangoherald.com
