Lexington middle school evacuated; some students relocated due to possible Freon leak.
Lexington’s Tates Creek Middle School students and staff evacuated that building just after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday following a possible Freon leak, Principal Eric Thornsbury told parents in a letter.
“Lexington Fire Department officials believe that the source of the odor may be related to an isolated Freon leak,” Thornsbury said about 2:21. p.m. Freon is an air-conditioning refrigerant..
Sixth-grade students returned to the building by 2:21 p.m. and were waiting in the cafeteria, an area of the building deemed safe for reentry.
Due to capacity and space restrictions in the cafeteria, seventh- and eighth-grade students were relocated to Tates Creek High School on the same campus, he said.
Lexington Fire Department officials told the Herald-Leader a crew from the hazardous material team used their detectors inside the classroom and onto the roof to determine a malfunction in the HVAC system was the source of the odor. The portion of the building with the odor will remain vacant until repairs are made.
Parents were being allowed to go to the school and get their children early, although officials said students were safe..
This story was originally published May 8, 2024 at 3:52 PM.