Due to a gas leak, classes at Vidor Middle School are canceled for a day

VIDOR, Texas – A suspected gas leak at Vidor Middle School's new campus triggered an evacuation of the campus and forced the cancellation of classes for the day.

Officials were unable to find a source for the gas leak at the school, according to Tim Brassard of Vidor ISD.

Brassard says the smell of gas that initially triggered an alarm now likely came from outside the school and was piped into the building by the air conditioning system.

Officials reportedly conducted a full inspection of the school and determined it was safe after all valves inside were checked and found closed.

The Vidor Independent School District sent a message to middle school parents Tuesday morning saying classes were canceled for the day due to a possible gas leak.

“I'm a forklift driver in orange. And my phone went off probably six or seven times. The same message. So my wife called me and said, baby, you better get our boys,” said parent Jared Lockett.

Parents were also told they could pick up students in the Vidor High School gymnasium parking lot with proper identification.

Bryan Brassard, communications coordinator for Vidor ISD, says a teacher smelled gas around 9:30 a.m. That teacher sent a message through the Raptor school security system to alert the district.

“It smelled strongly of gasoline,” said sixth-grader Gene Duhon.

“I was in second period, I was doing my homework and out of nowhere I heard children screaming. Then the door opened and I heard a lot of alarms,” said fifth-grader Liam Lockett.

Students and staff were quickly evacuated outside on Tuesday morning.

“I wasn't afraid. I was just trying to figure out what was going on,” said Kasen Simonetti, a sixth-grader.

“Suddenly fire alarms go off, louder than usual, everyone runs through the hallways trying to get out. Especially the classes that were closer to the cafeteria because of the gas leak,” Duhon said.

“We waited out there for a few minutes. And all we heard was fire trucks and stuff,” said fifth-grader Kailynn Josey.

Vidor firefighters and police arrived on scene to test carbon monoxide levels and determine the source.

“There was a smell of gas in the air. They didn't know where it came from. And so it was determined that it was some kind of gas leak. At this point, they don't know what actually caused it. There is.” “A lot of things in the school have gas,” Brassard said.

As they waited in long lines to pick up their children from high school, students were given food and parents were given water.

“A long absence from work. If you just say you can just show up, get the kids and come back. So it was a long wait,” said Johnette Simonetti, a mother.

After 11 a.m., firefighters decided the children could go back to middle school for the rest of the school day. Parents are grateful for the district’s quick response.

“I'm so happy. They decided to come for us. Instead of going out and leaving us alone,” Liam Lockett said.

“I am pleased with the response. The police and everyone who just looks after our children, you know. I’m very happy,” said Jared Lockett.

Normal classes will resume at Vidor Middle School on Wednesday.

The new Vidor Middle School opened in May 2024.

FEMA awarded the district $18.6 million to rebuild after the school was destroyed during Tropical Storm Harvey in 2017.

This is a developing story. We will release more information when we receive further confirmed information.