New preschoolers at Colonial Beach Elementary School got a lesson in fire safety on their first day of school.
On Monday Jan. 4 10 students attended the new preschool program in Colonial Beach. By 10:30 a.m. the preschoolers were getting their first lesson in fire drills; but this one was not a drill. At around 10:30 a.m. school officials smelled gas in the gymnasium and in the attached building.
The school evacuated students located in the building attached to the gymnasium. Buses took children to the rescue squad building to wait for the all clear.
The Colonial Beach Fire Department responded and thoroughly checked the gym and the gas was shut off. It is unclear if gas was detected by meters.
The rest of the building is heated by a different heat source so children were allowed to return to class after a few hours.
Principal Newman was out sick, Assistant Principal Mr. Wright took charge of the evacuation and called School Superintendant Dr. Power who was at the school before the fire department arrived.
The preschool students were very excited about their first day and Wright said his students were really excited to be back as well.