Seven students taken to hospital after hazardous material incident at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The Taunton Fire Department said seven students were taken to the hospital for evaluation after crews responded to a hazardous materials incident at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School on Monday.

Around 1:48 p.m., Taunton crews responded to the high school for reports of potential exposure to hazardous material after students claimed there was a strong odor in a classroom and a teacher called 911.

At the scene, Taunton crews deemed the incident a Tier 1 hazardous materials incident, which is the lowest level, and evaluated the 16 students and one staff member for minor symptoms in an adjacent building.

Seven students were taken to Morton Hospital for further evaluation.

Officials said there was no active chemical leak or spill in the classroom, which is a standalone outbuilding used for biotechnology, dental, and community health programs.

Additionally, firefighters did not find any “unusual readings” in the building during the investigation, according to Taunton Fire officials.

The Taunton Board of Health approved for the building to reopen, and classes are scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation by the Taunton Fire Department and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services’ Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division.