Workers Sickened At Miami Springs Middle School

MIAMI SPRINGS, FL — Fourteen adult employees at Miami Springs Middle School were taken from the school by ambulance on Wednesday after several people reported feeling ill. The incident happened at 11:42 a.m. First responders evacuated the school cafeteria and adjacent areas, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

"When units arrived they assessed several patients on scene and transported 14 people to local area hospitals for further evaluation," explained Erika Benitez of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. "A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Hazmat team was on site trying to locate the source of concern."

Jackie Calzadilla, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade County schools told Patch that some school employees noticed a suspicious smell inside the school cafeteria and felt ill. She said they were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Watch: Workers Sickened At Miami Springs Middle School

"There were no students in the cafeteria at the time," she said. "All students have been fed and the instructional day continues."

Benitez said that first responders remained on the scene Wednesday afternoon and were continuing to investigate.

"A total of 22 units responded to this call," Benitez added.

The Hazardous Materials Response Team includes a Hazmat Battalion Chief, Hazmat specialty unit, four Hazmat suppression units and a Hazmat medical unit. The units are equipped with protective clothing, chemical detection equipment, sampling devices, containment tools, materials identification computer systems, meteorological equipment and specialized medication.

Watch below as first responders arrive at Miami Springs Middle School:

The school is located at 150 S Royal Poinciana Blvd. in Miami Springs.

Video and image courtesy Miami-Dade Fire Rescue