Clayton Heights Secondary was evacuated on Wednesday morning following a 鈥渟mall spill鈥� in one of the high school鈥檚 science labs.

鈥淚t was in a contained area in one of the science labs,鈥� said Doug Strachan, Surrey Schools communications manager.

鈥淟ithium had gone down the drain, which has the potential to be flammable,鈥� he said.

The school was evacuated as a precaution, which Strachan said was the right response.

Surrey Fire Battalion Chief Reo Jerome confirmed that it was a 鈥渟mall chemical spill鈥� and that the teacher 鈥渆rred on the side of caution鈥� when they called for an evacuation after checking in with the fire department.

Students and staff were let back into the building at 12:30 p.m., about an hour after the evacuation was called.

Classrooms evacuated but learning happens anywhere.

鈥� Clayton Heights (@chslearn)

Physics in the gym

鈥� Clayton Heights (@chslearn)

鈥淗alf of the students are not in their regular classrooms,鈥� said Strachan, explaining that the rooms adjacent to the science labs have been cordoned off for safety.

There is a hazmat recovery team on site cleaning up the spill and removing the chemicals from the pipes, and Strachan said students and staff will be able to return to all Clayton Heights classrooms tomorrow morning.

Until then, students and staff have set up in the school cafeteria, the gymnasium and other spaces. One photo tweeted out by the Clayton Heights Secondary account is captioned with, 鈥淐lassrooms evacuated but learning happens anywhere.鈥�

editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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