Pepper spray led to Beech Grove High School evacuation, superintendent says

Update: Beech Grove Superintendent Laura Hammack in an email Wednesday said pepper spray led to the evacuation of the high school. Two students who "admitted to being directly involved" in spraying the irritant in the restroom are facing possible disciplinary actions, according to the message.

Beech Grove High School was evacuated Tuesday afternoon due to a "smoke-related issue" inside a girls' bathroom, according to fire officials.

A “hazardous materials chemical spill,” and a “cloud,” described as “white, hazy” and irritating throats, was reported in the first-floor bathroom just before noon. Indianapolis firefighters responded to the school, at 5330 Hornet Ave., as students and faculty exited the building.

The cause of the report is under investigation, as no chemicals were discovered by two HAZMAT teams that searched the reported bathroom, as well as both bathrooms and hallways on the floor above and below it.

“They've had zero readings, which means that we absolutely found nothing," said Indianapolis Battalion Chief Rita Reith.

A total of 22 people — 13 adults, nine students — reported having irritated throats, but no one was seriously harmed.

"Once they got into fresh air, grabbed some water, everything was good," Reith said.

Several emergency vehicles responded to the school, and students were taken to nearby Hornet Park Community Center and Hornet Park Elementary School.

Beech Grove City Schools Superintendent Laura Hammack said administrators were reviewing the comprehensive camera system throughout the building in an effort to determine what led up to the evacuation.

“This is a really scary situation for our students and for our families and this is a school day that has been fundamentally disrupted,” Hammack said. “So we want to get to the bottom of what’s happened and ensure something like this never happens again.”

Tuesday night activities are canceled at the high school as the building undergoes a sanitization process. Classes will resume Wednesday, Hammack said.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Beech Grove High School evacuation: What school officials are saying