Hazardous materials incident at elementary school in northwest DC leads to evacuations

WASHINGTON (7News) — Students and staff at Cleveland Elementary School in Washington, DC, were evacuated to a nearby church on Tuesday after an odor caused some people at the school to feel unwell, according to a DC Fire and Emergency Services official.

According to the fire department, no sources of danger were identified in the school. The smell was probably caused by asphalting work nearby.

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According to DC Fire and Public Schools (DC PS) officials, emergency crews were called to the 1800 block of 8th Street, Northwest, around 10:35 a.m. after receiving reports of a hazardous situation that led to an evacuation around 10:50 a.m.

Officials said 23 students and three adults were examined and released, while another adult was taken to hospital for further treatment.

DC officials say work is underway to improve ventilation at the school.

All students at the school were dismissed for the day, DCPS officials said.