Elementary school evacuated after students, staff become ill
April M. Washington
Published February 27, 2008 at 2:02 p.m.
Updated February 28, 2008 at 2:03 a.m.
Photo by Matt McClain / The Rocky
Cierra Martinez, 10, a student at Lumberg Elementary School in Edgewater, is comforted by Ami Phillips.
Lumberg Elementary School in Edgewater was evacuated Wednesday after several students and staff members complained of headaches and nausea, but the source of the illness remained a mystery, authorities said.
Nine students and four teachers were treated at nearby Jefferson High School, then taken to Lutheran Hospital as a precaution shortly after the school was evacuated about 1 p.m., a spokeswoman for Jefferson County Schools said.
Wheat Ridge Fire Department, West Metro Fire and Xcel Energy tested the school at 6700 W. 22nd Ave. several times Wednesday for gas leaks or other noxious substances but could not find the source of the illness, officials said.
"It's a little bit of a mystery of what caused the children and some teachers to become sick," said Cindy Matthews, a West Metro Fire spokeswoman. "We all tested for carbon monoxide and other gases, and the readings were negative."
Bewildered parents said they learned that the school had been evacuated while driving by the area, or by word-of-mouth hours after students were taken to the nearby high school.
The school was expected to reopen today, with environmental checks being conducted throughout the day, officials said.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misquoted Cindy Matthews, a spokeswoman for West Metro Fire. "We all tested for carbon monoxide and other gases, and the readings were negative," she said, referring to Lumberg Elementary School in Edgewater. The school was evacuated Wednesday after students and staff members became ill. The error was corrected.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
February 27, 2008
7:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
mjcmdc writes:
hey jenna get over it it's not like they have you and only you on speed dial. Your little darlin will survive. Is that your helicopter waiting don't miss it mommy.