UPDATE: Students Return to Schools Following Gas Odors

UPDATE 11:40: The source of the odor has been identified as a 3 inch main located on Lemon Road. The main has been turned off and New Jersey Natural Gas has cleared students to return to both schools.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Howell Police Department is reporting two of the Howell Public Schools were evacuated on Wednesday morning because of a natural gas odor.

Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd reported that Adelphia Elementary School and Memorial Middle School were being evacuated. The two share the same property on Adelphia Road near the intersection with Fairfield Road.

Dodd said that while the odor was in the area of the school they do not believe the smell was coming from inside either school but that “the odor is very strong in the area. An email sent to parents from Memorial said the Howell Fire Department was on the scene to check both schools. Dodd said New Jersey Natural Gas is also investigating. 

The students from the two schools have been taken to nearby locations while the investigation is conducted. Memorial Middle School students have been taken to the former revenue building and Hoffman field while Adelphia students are in the Ardmore Estates housing development. Dodd said with the potential for rain buses have been contacted should they need to be taken to a new location.  

This is a breaking news story. Check with Patch as more information becomes available.