The Salem Fire Department and Midwest Natural Gas were investigating the smell of natural gas in the area around Salem Community Schools earlier this morning.
According to Salem Fire Chief Tom Day, the school have been cleared.
Day said Midwest officials thought the smell was not gas but “some type of gear oil.”
He said they were still at the schools double checking.
The 911 call came in at 7:30a.
Initially it was reported the smell of gas was in the area of Bradie Shrum Elementary School.
Superintendent Dr. Lynn Reed reported shortly afterwards that the gas smell had been reported at all three buildings on campus.
Before 8a, Elementary Principal Brent Minton noted on Facebook, “Everything is okay. There isn’t a gas leak at the elementary. We just had people report there was a smell of natural gas in the area. The City of Salem Fire Department responded as did Midwest Natural Gas. The smell has dissipated at the elementary area.”
School was not held up this morning, but after 8a, Midwest and the fire department were still monitoring the area.
