RSU 56 Superintendent Pam Doyen, left center, waits outside of Dirigo Elementary School in Peru on Tuesday morning after the odor of propane gas was reported. Peru Fire Chief Bill Hussey stands to her right. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times
PERU — Dirigo Elementary School was evacuated Tuesday morning after a custodian reported the smell of propane gas, but companies that provide the fuel and deliver it for the school kitchen found no leaks.
Peru Fire Chief Bill Hussey, center, waits for a report that Dirigo Elementary School in Peru is clear of any gas leaks Tuesday morning. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times
One school employee was taken by Med-Care Ambulance to the Rumford Hospital after reportedly feeling lightheaded and unsteady, Superintendent Pam Doyen said.
Students were bused to Dirigo High School in Dixfield and eventually dismissed for the day, she said.
“We’re being very precautious,” Peru Fire Chief Bill Hussey said as he and firefighters from Peru, Rumford and Dixfield fire departments waited at the school parking lot, while employees from Specialty Services, which supplies the propane, and Community Energy, which delivers it, checked the building for leaks and found none.
After Central Maine Power cut electrical service to the school, firefighters did perimeter checks with air monitors and entered the building, Hussey said.
Doyen said classes will resume Wednesday morning at the school at 117 Auburn Road.
mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.