TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The school day for students at one Brevard County school ended early Tuesday.
Students at Imperial Estates Elementary School in Titusville were evacuated after concerns that there was a gas leak in the school;.
District officials said the students were evacuated to a shaded area of the campus and were being provided with water.
Officials said parents were notified of the situation through the district's rapid notification system.
"The students were all evacuated to the black top in the shade while the police department and fire handled the situation," parents were told in the call.
By 1:15 p.m., officials said the fire department had cleared an area of the school to allow children back inside an interior waiting area.
Titusville Fire Department officials said the problem was caused by an malfunctioning exhaust fan in the cafeteria that caused carbon monoxide to build up.
"I was very concerned. My daughter's class is close to the cafeteria," parent Robin Beard said.
Forty-one students were evaluated, according to fire officials.
"Students were evaluated on a case by case basis for signs and symptoms. We were also able to measure the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood," Battalion Chief Greg Sutton said.
One student was taken to a doctor and two staff members were transported to the hospital with elevated levels of carbon monoxide.
Officials said parents were allowed to the school to pick their children up, but bike riders, walkers and bus riders were not being released early unless a parent comes to pick them up.
"I'm sure this is probably overwhelming for a 5-year-old, being this is just their second day of school. Kindergarten just started yesterday so it's probably a big deal to them," parent Cherice Johnson said.
WFTV
