UPDATE: 11 Students Taken to Hospital After Scarborough, Maine, School Evacuated

UPDATED: 3:50 p.m. Thursday, March 6

On Thursday morning, March 6, students were evacuated from a Scarborough, Maine, school.

According to an email from the superintendent of Scarborough Public Schools, Diane Nadeau, multiple students in the Wentworth School cafeteria reported being sick and having respiratory problems.

WGME stated that multiple emergency crews responded to the incident.

Wentworth School in Scarborough, Maine, Evacuated

At a 12:30 p.m. press conference, the superintendent said that about 120 3rd and 4th-grade students were assembled on risers in the cafeteria rehearsing for an upcoming concert.

She said that one student passed out followed by other students complaining of respiratory issues.

The Scarborough Fire Department said in an 11:20 a.m. Facebook post that Public Safety 911 Center got a call from the school reporting kids feeling sick.

Nadeau said the school was evacuated and 11 students were taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Possible Gas Leak at Wentworth School in Scarborough, Maine?

The Portland Press Herald stated that a school staff member said officials were looking for a gas leak but couldn't find one.

During the press conference, Scarborough Fire Chief Rich Kindelan said that the fire department did two sweeps through the building and found nothing hazardous nor a gas leak.

Students and staff were allowed to return to the building.

The fire chief thanked the multiple responding crews and the school for the speedy response and cooperation during the incident.

A Scarbrough Public Schools afternoon press release said that the Scarborough Fire Department was assisted by 11 mutual aid Fire/EMS agencies.

Kindelan said that all injuries reported were minor. The press release indicated that the 11 students were released from the local hospitals by 1:30 p.m.

Kindelan said they will continue their investigation into the incident.

In the school's afternoon press release, it stated that the school would be seeing if the "temperature of the stage and limited ventilation might have been contributors to students’ symptoms." Steps will be taken to assess if improved ventilation might allow for better future airflow.

The Wentworth School's website highlights there are about 700 students in grades 3-5 annually, along with more than 100 staff members.

The story will be updated as more information comes in.