Berlin High School Briefly Evacuated

BERLIN, CT — An unusual odor caused evacuation of Berlin High School for a brief time Monday morning, but firefighters determined there was no level of natural gas detected.

At 7:30 a.m., the fire department investigated a report of an odor and determined it was caused by a malfunctioning boiler. The odor was from a small amount of the natural gas fuel that the boilers use, Principal Francis Kennedy said in a letter sent home to parents.

The boiler was taken offline and sent for repair by Connecticut Natural Gas specialists. The fire department determined that the building was safe and allowed students to return to classes at 8:45 a.m., Kennedy said.

"Your son/daughter responded with an impeccable level of seriousness and maturity, and you should be most proud. They exhibited patience and calm throughout the entire time outside. As always, at Berlin High School and Berlin Public Schools, the safety of students, staff, and visitors is our first priority," Kennedy wrote in the letter.

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Photo credit: Jill Xiarhos