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Dowdell Middle School is evacuated briefly for front office odor

 
Published Nov. 2, 2015

TAMPA — Dowdell Middle Magnet School was evacuated Monday morning because of an odor in the front office. But by late in the morning, all students were allowed to return to the Palm River school.

The school called Hillsborough Fire Rescue because of the odor, said Tanya Arja, spokeswoman for the district. Students were sent outside while officials tried to determine the cause of the odor.

"A total of seven patients were triaged but not transported," Fire Rescue said. The agency's "Hazmat Team metered the buildings, with nothing found."

After airing the building for 30 minutes, they allowed the students to return.

Of the students examined, Arja said their symptoms came from waiting outside in the heat. Some went home with their parents. No one needed to be taken to a hospital, she said.