Crime & Safety
Smoke at Long Reach High from Refrigerant Leak
The fire department responded, deemed the building ready for school Monday morning.
Students returned to school today at Smoke reported at on Monday morning was the result of a refrigerant leak in the boiler room, according to the fire department.
Firefighters responded to a 6 a.m. report of smoke at the school and worked with maintenance crews, who informed them of the source, to stop the leak and ventilate the building, according to a press release from the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS).
After monitoring the air for safety, HCDFRS deemed the building safe for occupancy at 7 a.m., according to Battalion Chief Gordon Wallace.
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"The main concern with this kind of leak is displacement of oxygen, which was mitigated by stopping the leak and ventilating the area," Wallace said.
The smoke did not keep kids out of school, which starts at 7:25 a.m. at Long Reach.
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"School started on time," said Patti Caplan, spokeswoman for the Howard County Public School System.
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