Tacoma, Wash., school evacuated twice by sickening smell and 11 kids sent to hospital

Wash. school evacuated twice by sickening smell

TACOMA, Wash. — An elementary school in Washington state was evacuated twice Thursday because of a sickening smell that sent 11 students to the hospital and forced educators to cancel Friday’s classes.

The first evacuation at Jennie Reed Elementary School in Tacoma came about 11 a.m. A fire department spokesman says 25 youngsters and staff reported headaches and nausea. Eleven students went to hospitals as a precaution but were released.

The second evacuation came about 2 p.m. as firefighters inspecting the building detected a metallic taste in their mouths. The 500 students were allowed to play outside for the final hour or so of the day.

School on Friday was called off so investigators can look for the source of the odor.

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(Information from KING, KOMO, The News Tribune, KIRO.)