Explosion Prompts Brief Lockdown at Hart Middle School

PLEASANTON, CA: An explosion at a Pleasanton business Tuesday afternoon prompted a brief lockdown at Hart Middle School, officials said.

According to Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Battalion Chief Joe Testa, the explosion was reported just before 3 p.m. in an enclosure of a business located in the 4400 block of Willow Road, across the street from Hart Middle School.

School officials ordered the shelter-in-place after learning of the explosion as students were due to be released at 3:08 p.m.

"We began working with Pleasanton Police and the fire department immediately after learning of a gas leak at a business across the street," school district spokesperson Patrick Gannon told Patch. "At approximately 2:50 p.m., the fire department issued a precautionary shelter-in-place, which was lifted at approximately 3:05 p.m."

Testa says no one was injured in the explosion and the incident is under investigation.

"The explosion, which occurred at a business that uses compressed gases, blew out a window and triggered a sprinkler to go off," Testa said. "We believe acetylene was the gas that first ignited."

The school district later sent an automated phone message to parents about the lockdown.

"Student safety is our top priority," Gannon said. "We're grateful to the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department and Police Department for their partnership towards ensuring the safety of our students and community."

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Photo courtesy Livermore-Pleasanton Fire BC