Students Evacuated After Gas Leak In The Caldwells

A gas leak prompted authorities to order a precautionary evacuation of Jefferson Elementary School in West Caldwell on Monday morning.

The orderly evacuation took place after PSE&G struck a gas service line on Prospect Street around 10:20 a.m., while digging to install a utility pole.

School officials led students to James Caldwell High School, where they were released to their parents around 11:30 a.m.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

“Gas service to the school was shut off so that we can safely make repairs,” PSE&G spokesperson Brooke Houston told Patch at 2:21 p.m. on Monday. “We expect to have service restored within the next several hours.”

Students were already outside when the gas leak occurred, and were kept there while PSE&G workers repaired the leak and assessed the situation, according to Christine Corliss, a communications specialist with the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District.

Administrators made the decision to lead students to the high school because it was heading away from the direction of the leak, Corliss told Patch.

Corliss said that the evacuation was “a call we made to make sure that we were being safe.”

The district had a remaining snow day, which was used for an early dismissal.

Families of students can contact info@cwcboe.org with any questions.

Send Caldwell area news tips and photos to eric.kiefer@patch.com