Home

Transformer Problem Forces Mass. School Evacuation

Feb. 16, 2012

Officials are deciding whether to inspect about 150 electrical transformers in the new $51 million Hanover High School after one of the devices melted, filling a science classroom with smoke Tuesday afternoon. The school was evacuated and students were sent home early.

Source The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA)

HANOVER - Officials are deciding whether to inspect about 150 electrical transformers in the new $51 million Hanover High School after one of the devices melted, filling a science classroom with smoke Tuesday afternoon. The school was evacuated and students were sent home early.

Firefighters were sent to the school at about 12:30 p.m. after a teacher reported a burning smell in a third-floor classroom laboratory. The school was evacuated, and the students were moved to the gym and dismissed as fire officials tried to find the source of the light smoke that filled the classroom.

"You can't be chasing smoke on the third floor while you have kids in the classrooms below," Chief Jeffrey Blanchard said.

After more than an hour of searching, firefighters located the damaged transformer above a classroom ceiling panel and disconnected it. The classroom was not damaged and no one was injured.

Deputy Fire Chief Barbara Stone said the transformer, which powered the classroom's heating and ventilation system, was above the sprinkler system and could have posed a serious fire hazard if allowed to continue smoldering. She said firefighters were delayed in locating the source because the smoke was flowing into the room through a hole between the wall and a classroom cabinet that had not been adequately sealed.

School Superintendent Kristine Nash said the contractor that built the school, Callahan Inc., was at the school Tuesday afternoon to determine what caused the transformer to malfunction and whether others need to be inspected or replaced.

"We've got about 150 of those, so we'll probably have someone check all of them," she said.

Nash said the cost of any inspection or repairs would be covered by the warranty in the town's contract with Callahan.

The new 157,000-square-foot high school building was opened to students in September after two years of construction. The building is next to the site of the former high school, which was demolished.

Reporter Stephanie Spyropoulos contributed to this report. Reach Neal Simpson at [email protected]