Skyline High School closes early due to gas leak

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - UPDATE 10:45 a.m.: The Idaho Falls Fire Department reports the high school has been ventilated, and the gas leak isolated.

The air quality has been monitored and is back to normal levels.

According to school officials, the students are being brought back over to Skyline High School to gather their things.

They will be bused home and/or allowed to go home by private vehicle. Classes are canceled for the rest of the day.

The following is a letter send out to parents:

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As you know, we had an apparent gas leak at Skyline High School this morning, and I wanted to follow up with some additional information about the incident.

This morning teachers in the 200 Hall noticed the smell of gas. We immediately called our maintenance crew and they detected higher than normal carbon monoxide levels. The CO levels were never life threatening, but in parts of the school they were high enough to cause concern that students or staff may get sick. We quickly evacuated students and staff to the gymnasium, and then to Eagle Rock Middle School. In the end, we decided to cancel school for the day.

After extensive investigation, our maintenance crew determined the issue was related to a broken vent in the heating system exhaust, which caused it to bring CO back into the building. Our crews are in the process of repairing the system. They will have Intermountain Gas check the system and make sure the issue is resolved before we reopen Skyline for classes tomorrow. Increased CO levels were never detected in the gymnasium so we are planning to hold tonight’s basketball game as scheduled.

As you know, we regularly hold emergency drills to prepare for situations like this. I want to commend students and staff for following our protocols and procedures, and also to thank the Idaho Falls Fire Department and the Idaho Falls Police Department for their support. I also want to thank our parents for their support and patience during the emergency.

If you have any follow-up questions or concerns, please let me know.

Thank you,

Josh Newell Principal

Skyline High School

ORIGINAL: A gas leak at Skyline High School prompts an evacuation Thursday morning. Students have been escorted to Eagle Rock Middle School as a precaution.

The Idaho Falls fire department says there were no injuries or illnesses reported. IFFD is ventilating the building.

Idaho Falls School District 91 is notifying parents.