Gas Fumes Force Belize Elementary Evacuation

A scare at Belize Elementary School forced an abrupt evacuation after the strong smell of butane swept across the campus late this morning. Just after 11:30, administrators activated the school’s emergency plan, calling the fire department, clearing classrooms, and alerting parents as the situation unfolded in real time. The source of the fumes was a leaking gas tank at a nearby burger shop, one of two vendors the school has long worried about because their tanks sit so close to the campus entrance. During the evacuation, News Five’s Shane Williams spoke with Principal Majiba Sharp about what triggered the alarm and how the school moved hundreds of students to safety.

 

Majiba Sharp, Principal, Belize Elementary/High School

“We started smelling butane. And it got stronger and stronger. The smell was getting into our classrooms and even outside, all around the campus. And so we activated our emergency plan, which is to dismiss them right away, call the fire department so that they could address it. Seems the source is the little burger pot that’s right in front of the school.”

 

Shane Williams

“And how was the emergency evacuation executed? It seems that it’s going smoothly.”

 

Majiba Sharp

“Yes, very smoothly. We have SMS with our parents so they get a message right away. They also got an email and our – every single class has a class chat, so they will get it from me, from email and from their class teacher. So that will go out in seconds and then parents, were able to come here rather quickly. So you’ll see them being dismissed right now.”

 

Shane Williams

“And finally for me, do you expect the students to return today or that’s it for?”

 

Majiba Sharp

“No. That’s it for today. So they’ll return tomorrow.”

School officials say classes resume tomorrow, now that firefighters have secured the area and the source of the gas leak has been contained.