HURRICANE – Hurricane High School was evacuated Tuesday due to a possible gas leak.
The Washington County School District issued the following alert via social media and its web site at 12:11 p.m.: “School at Hurricane High has been dismissed at this time due to a possible gas leak. Buses are there to pick up students but those students who have driven themselves may not be able to access their vehicles from the parking lot at this time.”
The St. George Communications Center confirmed the presence of police and emergency crews in the area due to the incident. Police have been handling traffic in the area.
Dispatch reported that QwestStar Gas personnel finished sweeping the high school around 1 p.m. and determined there was no longer a threat.
The gas leak is suspected to have been caused by an excavator at a nearby construction site.
Students are expected to be able to return to school tomorrow.
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There was no panic, no urgency…other than a ton of emergency vehicles that created a safe perimeter around the campus. I was impressed! My son walked out and seemed very nonplussed by the entire situation, even though he’d been made to leave in a hurry, without his belongings. Traveling to the east, you could smell a very strong odor of gas…very strong. I’m sure if this had been handled in a bad way the outcome would have been entirely different. Thank you to Principal Rich for his reassuring phone message and to Hurricane City emergency personnel.