THUNDER BAY -- Students at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute endured some very cold temperatures after a suspected gas leak forced the evacuation of the school early Wednesday morning.
"At about 9:30 a.m. we were going to class and an announcement was made that there was a gas leak and we had to evacuate," said Grade 11 student, Mikaela Chimbakis.
However, school officials and emergency crews later determined there was a problem with a dilution tank underneath one of the science rooms that led to the odour and resulted in the evacuation.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue responded to the school along with Union Gas. The Lakehead Public School Board dispatched 27 buses to the school to provide students with a place to get out of the cold and some students were also allowed back into the cafeteria.
A spokesperson with the Lakehead Public School Board said Union Gas attended the scene and just after 11 a.m. the all clear was given for students and staff to return to the school.
Before the school buses arrived just before 10:30, students were stuck standing outside in temperatures that felt close to -21 C with the windchill.
"It’s pretty cold today," Mikaela said. "Not the best to be outside."
"I would rather be warm and in class right now than standing out here and freezing," added Grade 11 student, Kamryn Sandelovich. "It is definitely really cold. I’m freezing right now."
