High gas levels at Ellicott City elementary school prompts evacuation, early dismissal

Higher than normal levels of methane gas at Worthington Elementary School, in Ellicott City, prompted an evacuation and early dismissal for students Friday, Sept. 2, school officials reported.

County schools spokeswoman Patti Caplan said the higher reading was detected from a monitoring well in the school's parking lot, and that officials from the school system, county and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. were on site assessing the situation.

Caplan said the school has a monitoring well because it is situated near an old landfill, which naturally produces methane.

BGE staff completed test borings around the school, Caplan said, and determined the higher levels of methane were from residual amounts under the soil, not a leak. BGE detected and fixed a gas leak July 28, Caplan said, but the earthquake Aug. 23 could have displaced and released the trapped gas.

Students and staff were evacuated to Doncaster Drive, a nearby street intersecting with Roundhill Road, where the school is located, principal Katherine Orlando said in an email to parents. Students were put on busses or released to their parents from the evacuation location.

Caplan said follow-up tests were scheduled for Monday.