Six Schools Still Closed After Fort Lewis Gas Leak

Fri., Sept. 26, 1997

Associated Press

A half dozen schools were closed as a precaution Thursday, one day after a gas cloud made dozens of people ill and forced evacuation of one school where the gas got into the ventilation system.

Closed were Spanaway Elementary, Camas Prairie Elementary, Thompson Elementary, Spanaway Junior High and Challenger Secondary’s two schools, all in the Bethel School District.

“We’re pretty sure that it’s safe to go back, but we want to be positive - and let the children recover from the stress of it all,” Bethel spokesman Robb Mitchell said.

The gas cloud came from nearby Fort Lewis, where soldiers on Tuesday night fired off canisters of CS gas - similar to tear gas - after a training exercise, said Lt. Col. Gary Hovatter, Fort Lewis public affairs officer.

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