21 teens and 1 teacher treated after gas leak in Seattle, WA

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: CH-20070317-10379-USA
Date / time: 17/03/2007 07:13:45
Event: Chemical Accident
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Washington
City: Seattle
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: 21 persons
Damage level: Minor

Description:
Twenty-one teenagers and their teacher complained of dizziness Friday after a natural gas leak at the Seattle Center's Center House, the Seattle Fire Department said. Five students were taken to local hospitals as a precaution, but the other students and their teacher were OK, said Patti Spencer, a Seattle Public Schools spokeswoman.

Fire Capt. Reba Gonzales said the fire department believes one of the teens had turned on the gas in a chemistry classroom that was being used for a math class at the alternative high school that operates in the Center House. "The teacher hit the emergency shutoff and ventilated the room and got all the students out," Gonzales said. "I do not have any information about why the gas leak occurred," Spencer said in response to the fire department's suggestion that a student turned on the gas.

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&id=10379


She said the teacher noticed the leak and that it did not affect any other classrooms. The second-floor room cleared of fumes about a half hour after the problem was reported, shortly after 10 a.m. Parents were called and given the option to bring their students who were in the affected classroom home early, Spencer said.

The Center School shares space at the building, a former armory, with a food court, offices and a children's museum.