Sixth-grade students at Derby Middle School were moved to the cafeteria Friday morning so that firefighters could investigate a gas odor in the school.
The fire department was called to the Nutmeg Avenue school at about 10 a.m. They quickly took air meter readings in the school and inspected the gas turbines outside the building.
“There was no (carbon monoxide), no gas. It was just a safety precaution,” Derby Fire Chief Jim Butler said.
School Superintendent Stephen Tracy said a YankeeGas employee took an air reading.
“He said zero point zero — no gas,” Tracy said.
School officials think the odor may have been an additive that is in the turbine to prevent corrosion.
“Apparently some of that smell was getting into the building. We have to figure out whether a vent is allowing that air to be pulled into the building,” Tracy said.
Principal Sally Bonina said the odor was concentrated in the bottom level of the school.
Firefighters were outside the school for about 30 minutes.
School officials said they would be contacting parents to let them know what happened.
