Stinkin’ prank sickens students
Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School was evacuated Thursday after what initially was thought to be a natural gas leak sickened students and prompted a multi-agency emergency response.
A call came about 2:15 p.m., Peabody fire chief Colton Glenn said. Responders preparing for a possible gas or carbon monoxide incident.
Instead, crews determined the odor came from a prank involving multiple aerosol cans of “fart spray” released inside the school, primarily in a boys’ bathroom and locker room.
Several additional cans were later found in an unidentified student’s locker, Glenn said.
Students reported symptoms including headaches, lightheadedness, and vomiting, though Glenn said he did not personally witness anyone becoming sick.
“They were several kids out there that were light-headed and had a headache,” Glenn said.
Students were evacuated outside the school while firefighters ventilated the building by opening windows and using fans to push the odor out, Glenn said.
The smell was strongest on the upper floor, while only faintly noticeable near the building’s entrance.
Emergency responders from across the county were dispatched. Included were fire, law enforcement, emergency management, and ambulance crews.
“We showed up ready for some carbon monoxide poisoning,” Glenn said. “It was not something that was taken lightly.”
Peabody fire department remained on scene for less than an hour and cleared the building around 3 p.m., he said.
Superintendent Antoinette Root confirmed that parents were notified and said that standard safety protocols were followed.
Per policy, she would not provide additional details about the incident or any disciplinary action.
Undersheriff Larry Starkey said no request for criminal charges had been filed.
“When we dump the county for something serious like that and we have every entity coming to their aid, those resources could be used somewhere else,” Glenn said.