Ridgevalley School (Facebook)

By Liam Verster

School Evacuation

Students back in class after evacuation Ridgevalley School

Sep 8, 2020 | 11:23 AM

Students and staff were evacuated from the Ridgevalley School at about 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, after an odour thought to be natural gas was detected by staff.

Staff were concerned by the smell, and the Debolt Fire and Rescue Service and the East Smoky Gas Co-op were called to the scene.

Students were taken to a safe area away from the school, as per the evacuation procedure, as the gas company and first responders did inspections.

At about 10 a.m., it was determined that the odour originated from outside the school and that it was safe for students and staff to once again be in the building.

The Peace Wapiti Public School Division says in a post on social media that they are grateful for the quick response by the first responders and fire crews.