GAS FUME SCARE SCHOOL CLOSED; DOZENS SICKENED.Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer CANYON COUNTRY - La Mesa La Mesa (lə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 52,931), San Diego co., S Calif., a suburb of San Diego; inc. 1912. It is a retail center and a popular residence for upper- and middle-income professionals in the San Diego area. Junior High School was evacuated Wednesday after the smell of natural gas sent nine students and one teacher to the hospital and sickened 52 others. Worried parents rushed to the school a few minutes after firefighters and paramedics arrived at the campus around 11 a.m. and began treating the sickened students and teachers with oxygen and cold compresses. ``I was in my back yard and looked up and saw the helicopters hovering over La Mesa and got very worried,'' said Jack Richards Clifton James "Jack" Richards (born August 10, 1958, Penzance, Cornwall) is a former English cricketer who played in 8 Tests and 22 ODIs from 1981 to 1988. He was a wicketkeeper and a useful lower-middle order batsman, who made a brilliant 133 for England against Australia at Perth , who picked up his son, Jason. ``This is very scary, when you think about what happens at schools these days.'' The sickened students complained of headaches, nausea and lightheadedness after inhaling the pungent gas odor. Paramedics and nurses gave the students oxygen and had them lie down in the school's auditorium. The sickened teacher, Jennifer Wojciki, 25, and the ill students, who were not identified, were treated at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. All were listed in fair condition Wednesday afternoon, hospital officials said. ``I was in P.E. outside when we started smelling it and it was really bad,'' said Eric Hinnerichs, 14, as his father walked him and two of his neighbors home. ``It made my head hurt.'' The problem started at 9 a.m. when Southern California Gas This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. Co. began depressurizing a pipeline at the Quigley Transfer Station near Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling and Mad Road, about three miles away from the May Way school, said Anthony Tartaglia, the district manager for the company's northern region. When a pipe is depressurized, the odorized gas is allowed to escape in the air where it usually disperses quickly, Tartaglia said. ``But because the winds died down this morning, coupled with the heat, the odorant odorant /odor·ant/ (o´der-int) any substance capable of stimulating the sense of smell. odorant that is added to natural gas settled and hung in the canyon where the school is,'' Tartaglia said. Natural gas reduces the amount of oxygen in air and can make breathing difficult, said Santa Clarita's acting assistant fire chief, Steven Lindsey. Gas Co. officials plan to depressurize de·pres·sur·ize tr.v. de·pres·sur·ized, de·pres·sur·iz·ing, de·pres·sur·iz·es To reduce the pressure of air or gas within (a chamber or vehicle, for example). another pipe today in the Tick Canyon area, northeast of city limits. School officials started loading the 1,350 uniformed junior high students onto school and city buses at noon, sending them home for the day. School will reopen today as usual, said Bob Lee, superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District. ``We had a lot of kids complaining that they didn't feel good, and the odor was quite strong,'' said Assistant Principal Randy Estes. ``We decided, in accordance with our disaster procedures, to send them on home.'' The routine gas line maintenance was being done in order to shut down a four- to five-mile stretch of pipe and tie into a new 30-inch transmission pipe at the transfer station. The new gas line will serve the 2,500-home Fair Oaks Fair Oaks, town, United States Fair Oaks, uninc. residential town (1990 pop. 26,867), Sacramento co., N central Calif., on the American River, in a growing citrus fruit and farm area. subdivision under construction across the Antelope Valley Freeway The Antelope Valley Freeway is a freeway in Los Angeles and Kern counties in southern California. It is signed as California State Highway 14 along its length. It connects Greater Los Angeles to the rapidly developing Antelope Valley. outside the city, Tartaglia said. Early reports that the natural gas release was linked to the construction of Golden Valley Road and the new Golden Valley High School were incorrect, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Tartaglia and city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz. Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County fire officials said the company followed protocol by notifying the city, the Fire Department, the Sheriff's Department and other state and county officials of the maintenance. ``The company wasn't asking for our permission, but just letting us know,'' Ortiz said. The company did not notify the school district because it is not required to, Tartaglia said. ``I'm concerned that they didn't notify us,'' Lee said. ``I think they should have, although I'm not sure that would have changed what happened today.'' Tartaglia said the company would investigate the incident and consider notifying the school district in the future. ``This is quite unfortunate and unusual,'' Tartaglia said. ``Public safety is paramount.'' CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Students at La Mesa Junior High, above, in Canyon Country walk past firetrucks on their way to buses Wednesday when a natural gas release spurred administrators to close school early. At left, victims of the fumes fumes odorous gases and other volatile materials; inhalation of irritating fumes causes coughing and, if sufficiently severe, irreversible pulmonary edema. breathe in oxygen and rest in the school's multipurpose mul·ti·pur·pose adj. Designed or used for several purposes: a multipurpose room; multipurpose software. multipurpose Adjective room. (3 -- 4) One of nine students, above, who were hospitalized after Wednesday's natural gas release waits in an ambulance to be transported. At left, La Mesa Junior High students rest inside the school after being overcome by the natural gas fumes. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer 
this is my current school, but.<br><br>I cant see the pictures you posted?<br><br><br> |
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