Calif. Firefighters Decon Students After Pesticide Mishap

March 29--A school bus was hit with pesticide drift Thursday morning, prompting decontamination of 30 students.

A crop duster dropped its load about 7:50 a.m. in the 25800 block of Stockdale Highway, and pesticides were believed to have drifted over the bus, said Ernie Unruh, superintendent of the Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District. The bus was not directly hit.

About 20 students complained of itchiness, upset stomachs and generally not feeling well.

Firefighters and hazardous materials crews decontaminated students on school grounds on Enos Lane at Kratzmeyer Road. The children were given showers and clean clothes to wear.

The children were evaluated and taken care of at the school. If any children were taken to local hospitals, it was by parents and not by ambulance, Kern County Fire Capt. Derek Tisinger said.

Kern Medical Center and Mercy Hospital set up triage units outside when reports of the incident first came in. They weren't needed and were taken down, and spokespeople at both hospitals said they didn't believe any students were brought there.

One parent took a child to a doctor to ensure the child's asthma would not be exacerbated by the exposure.

Unruh said the bus driver immediately called him and said he believed pesticide drifted over the bus. Parents of the students on the bus were called, as well as emergency help.

"I'm very happy with the response of the school and firefighters," said Nicole Elizondo, whose fifth-grade son was on the bus.

Elizondo said cropdusting is just something she and her family live with as residents in a rural area.

Jamey Lyster said his sixth-grade daughter was on the bus and at first complained of itchiness but later said she wasn't itchy. Lyster said he felt reassured by school officials that all necessary precautions were taken following the incident.

But he was concerned that the pesticide drifted over the bus in the first place.

"How can you miss a big yellow bus on a clear day?" Lyster said of the cropduster pilot.

Jay Wilson, owner of Inland Crop Dusters, said the pilot was making a scheduled application of LORSBAN Advanced pesticide on a wheat field. It's used to kill aphids.

Wilson said the Kern County Department of Agriculture will conduct an investigation and, based on its findings, it will be revealed whether there was a violation. Wilson said he was glad no one was hurt and everyone was able to return to school or their homes.

Agricultural Commissioner Ruben J. Arroyo could not be reached for comment.

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