Classes were canceled at a Waldport elementary school Wednesday after an odor prompted parents to take their children to the emergency room.
At least 14 children’s parents took them to the emergency room to have their blood levels tested for exposure to carbon monoxide, Karen Fischer Gray, superintendent of the Lincoln County School District, said in a statement posted online. Some had elevated or slightly elevated carbon monoxide levels.
School staff noticed a strong smell of diesel in part of Crestview Heights School last week, and students were evacuated, according to a statement from the school district’s safety coordinator. The smell dissipated, and students and staff were later cleared to return to the school.
A fire official thought the smell came from the Waldport High/Middle School boiler. That school is located nearby, and fumes may have gotten into the elementary building.
An odor returned Tuesday. None of the carbon monoxide detectors went off, the superintendent said.
She said that beginning Tuesday afternoon, the boilers would be turned off at both the High/Middle School and Crestview Heights School.
“This is necessary to help learn if the boilers are contributing to the odor and if they can be blamed for exposure to CO,” she said.
“They will remain off between 2 and 4 weeks in order to give us the right amount of time to know if there is indeed anything wrong with our boilers. At this time we believe they are working well.”
She warned parents that temperatures in the schools will be colder than normal. Warmer clothing will be provided to those who need it. Space heaters, she said, “will be made available as much as possible.”
Crestview Heights School classes are set to resume Thursday.
-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
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