AURORA, W.Va. — Eight people were transported to Garrett Regional Medical Center Monday after reports of a possible carbon monoxide leak in the Aurora School, according to the Preston County Emergency Management director.
“Our center took a call at 9:18 a.m. from the board of education reporting a possible gas leak in one of the rooms at the Aurora School,” Director Justin Wolfe said. “They went through and checked all the students and staff for carbon monoxide sickness. Eight people have been transported to Garrett Regional Medical Center at this time. That number could increase, but it seems stable now.”
Officials said the incident was declared a mass causality incident due to the number of available resources compared to the number of potential patients.
Preston County requested assistance from Garrett County first responders to assist, according to Wolfe.
“We asked Garrett County’s Hazardous Materials Team to come down and try and find the source of the fumes and contain them,” Wolfe said. “All personnel and students from the school have been sent home after being evaluated for emergency personnel.”
Wolfe added that approximately 25 students were exposed. Those students were evaluated by medical personnel and released to their parents or transported to the hospital.
The Aurora School is described as an elementary and middle school with kindergarten through eighth grade, according to Wolfe.
The Aurora Volunteer Fire Department, Tera Alta Ambulance and Kamp Ambulance, along with representatives from the board of education, the Preston County Sheriff’s Department and Preston County Office of Emergency Management responded.
The Garrett County Emergency Services said in a press release that two ambulances from Southern Garrett Rescue Squad, an EMS supervisor, the Garrett County Hazardous Materials Team and the Oakland, Gorman and Deep Creek volunteer fire departments responded to the scene.