Gas leak prompts Becker school evacuation

Police say a severed copper tube in a chemistry classroom caused a natural gas leak that prompted Becker High School to be evacuated.

Police Chief Brent Baloun says police were called just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to the school on the report of a strong gas odor in the science wing.

School administrators evacuated students and staff into the field house as a precaution.

Xcel Energy traced the source of the smell to a chemistry classroom.

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Several staff members and students complained of burning eyes and difficulty breathing, but no one was taken to the hospital.

The school was cleared and classes resumed at 11:30 a.m.

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Information from: St. Cloud Times, http://www.sctimes.com

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)