Students and staff at Shadow Hills High School in the desert city of Indio were evacuated onto the campus athletic field Thursday while firefighters tried to determine the source of a noxious odor that caused several teens to fall ill.
Three students were taken to a hospital for evaluation, while at least two others reported feeling ill but were not transported by paramedics, according to April Newman of the Riverside County Fire Department.
A county fire department hazardous materials team was also sent to the school during the noon hour, but had not identified or pinpointed the source of the odor as of 2:20 p.m., she said.
Around 1,900 students and teachers were evacuated to the school’s athletic field, but were later moved to the adjacent Desert Ridge Academy due to the midday heat — it was 93 degrees in the early afternoon. A number of SunLine buses were also requested to help evacuees escape the heat, Newman said.
Parents wanting to pick up their children were being instructed to go to Desert Ridge Academy, 79767 Avenue 39, and bring identification.
–City News Service