Hopewell Valley Central High School was evacuated briefly on Oct. 19 after a hazy, smoke-like condition was discovered inside the Performing Arts Center, according to the Hopewell Township Police Department.
Police officers were sent to the school shortly after 7 a.m. to investigate reports of smoke. Students and staff were temporarily relocated to the Timberlane Middle School as a precaution.
An investigation by firefighters determined that the haze was not the result of a fire. It was related to previous roof maintenance work and the activation of the school’s HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, stirring up dust.
Residual oil inside the HVAC system also may have contributed to the hazy, smoke-like condition, police said.
The Hopewell Valley Emergency Service, the Pennington Fire Company, the Hopewell Fire Department and the Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad responded, along with the Hopewell Township Police Department.
