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Crime & Safety

Simsbury High Evacuated Prior To End Of Day

Students spilled chemicals in hall and stairwell.

Simsbury High was evacuated for a short period of time Tuesday afternoon after small amounts of alcohol-chemicals were spilled in the school's science wing.

The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call have a hazardous materials spill at SHS at 1:47 p.m., according to Principal Neil Sullivan. 

In a letter home to parents, Sullivan wrote that students removed the chemicals ammyl acetate and octanol from a chemistry classroom and were spilled on the second and third floor corridor floors in the science wing. While the spill itself was small, only in droplet size, the smell in the school was strong.

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Asst. Fire Chief Patrick Torville recommended the school's evacuation and students were kept from the building for 45 minutes and past the normal dismissal time.

"... due to the timing of the evacuation, many students still had belongings in the classrooms. At 2:40 p.m., once the fire officials had determined that the building was safe, teachers and students were allowed back to their rooms to pick up their items and go home for the day," Sullivan wrote.

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The building is currently open.

"For student who left backpacks or other items in the classrooms and need access to them tonight, we ask you to come to the high school between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Administrative staff and custodians will be in the main lobby to meet students and then provide them with supervised access to the classrooms," Sullivan wrote.

A few students who were directly exposed to the chemicals were treated in the nurses' office for minor skin rashes.

"If your child feels that he/she may have been exposed directly to these chemicals, which are classified as level one (lowest level) hazards, please contact your physician," added Sullivan.

School will be open tomorrow for CAPT testing for ninth and tenth grade students. For students who do not have CAPT, Period 2 will begin at 10:30 a.m.

To read the letter sent by Principal Sullivan, click here.

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