An Atlanta elementary school was evacuated and students were moved to another campus after a pipe burst in the cafeteria and knocked out heat in the building, an Atlanta Fire Rescue spokesman said.
Firefighters were called to Cleveland Avenue Elementary School after a report of an explosion about 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sgt. Cortez Stafford said.
When crews arrived at the school in the 2600 block of Old Hapeville Road, they determined it was not an explosion, but a problem with the school’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
The incident caused a loud bang and popped ceiling tiles at the campus.
“So it did scare a lot of people in the school at the time,” Stafford said.
Results from air quality tests ultimately showed “at no point were any children in danger,” and firefighters gave the all-clear, he said.
Students were initially moved to the school gym. Officials later decided to relocate them to Heritage Academy as a precautionary measure. Heritage Academy is about 2.5 miles south of Cleveland Avenue Elementary on Villa Circle.
“The Atlanta Fire Department advised us to relocate the students for the day to give the HVAC team a chance to conduct a comprehensive check of the system,” Atlanta Public Schools spokeswoman Latisha Gray said in a statement. “Students ... will receive instruction over there today.”
Students and staff will be taken back to Cleveland Avenue Elementary for normal dismissal, she said.
No other details were released.
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