City of Manassas Park recently issued the following announcement.
At approximately 07:27 this morning, Manassas Park Fire & Rescue was dispatched to Cougar Elementary for an unusual odor. Upon arrival at approximately 07:31, Fire Rescue staff met with school officials who advised that they believe the unusual odor was in the school kitchen. An Incident Command was established in the front parking lot of Cougar Elementary and the Incident Commander deployed crews into the school to investigate odor. The kitchen was swept with atmospheric monitoring equipment and while a faint odor was present, no gas detection readings could be obtained. Fire Rescue personnel then checked the air handler unit above the kitchen and an outdoor gas meter, where a small leak was found. A fresh air vent was located near the outdoor gas meter which allowed the smell of natural gas to be smelled inside the building. Ultimately, Fire Rescue crews did not detect a gas reading inside the School and determined there was no threat to the facility. This information was relayed to the Incident Command, who advised Cougar and Schools staff of the situation. Due to the odor at the School, in order to control traffic flow and facilitate response efforts, and out of an abundance of caution, all incoming students and faculty were staged at Manassas Park Elementary. Again, there was no threat determined to our School Children by the Fire Department and later Washington Gas.
Washington Gas deployed to the scene and began making repairs to the outside gas meter. Additionally, mobile ventilation unit 512 (PWC Woodbridge) was called to the scene to assist in ventilating the school to ensure all odors had been removed. Manassas Park Fire Rescue also inspected the rear of the school to ensure there were no other issues. Once the “All Clear” was given by Washington Gas and Manassas Park Fire Rescue, students were brought back in to continue their normal school day. The City commends and thanks the quick actions of Manassas Park City Schools staff and all public safety officers who responded to the scene.
Original source can be found here.
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