Newbury Park elementary school evacuated because of gas leak

Firefighters briefly evacuated Cypress Elementary School Friday morning after school officials said a construction crew caused a gas leak at the Newbury Park campus.

Southern California Gas Company workers evaluated all of the school's gas lines and completed a minor repair. Two hours after the alarm, emergency personnel cleared the school to resume classes, Conejo Valley Unified School District officials announced in an email to parents at 10:39 a.m. Friday.

Multiple emergency vehicles responded to 4200 Kimber Road after the leak was called in at 8:26 a.m., records show, just over 10 minutes after the 290-student school's morning bell.

The Ventura County Fire Department evacuated students to the school's parking lot "as a precautionary measure," according to a 9 a.m. social media post from the fire agency.

Fire department spokesperson Andy VanSciver said in a call that no injuries had been reported and that the evacuated students eventually moved to the school's multipurpose room after its air quality was cleared.

In an earlier message from Conejo Valley Unified to the school's community on Friday morning, officials said the leak was triggered after "a construction project affected the gas line at the front of the school."

Isaiah Murtaugh covers education for the Ventura County Star in partnership with Report for America. Reach him at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com or 805-437-0236 and follow him on Twitter @isaiahmurtaugh and @vcsschools. You can support this work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Gas leak prompts evacuation of Newbury Park school