PORTLAND, Ore. — A medical emergency involving a 15-year-old student prompted the evacuation of Benson Polytechnic High School on Tuesday, Sept. 8, after the teenager mixed chemicals and inhaled the gases produced by the mixture.
The student, whose identity has not been publicly released, is expected to survive, according to Portland Police Bureau Chief Bob Day, who provided an update during a press conference Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Day was joined by Portland Fire and Rescue Chief Lauren Johnson and Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong as officials explained what happened and addressed concerns about the safety of students and staff.
Police initially reported that the teenager had ingested a chemical mixture. However, further investigation changed that understanding.
The Portland Police Bureau said detectives now believe the student suffered a medical emergency after mixing chemicals and inhaling the gases, rather than drinking the mixture as initially reported.
Student’s Actions Trigger Emergency Response
The incident led officials to quickly evacuate the high school while emergency crews responded to the scene. According to police, investigators are still working to determine how the student obtained the chemicals and what led him to mix and inhale them.
The investigation has included numerous interviews, follow-up on tips, reviews of surveillance footage and social media accounts, search warrants and the seizure of electronic devices, police said.
Officials have not identified the specific chemicals involved.
Fire and Rescue Chief Johnson described the response as an unusual and complicated emergency because crews had to deal with a potential hazardous-material situation while also protecting hundreds of students and staff members.
“Yesterday’s incident at Benson High School was an unusual and complex call for our crews,” Johnson said. “It involved hazardous materials, a full school evacuation, and all of the challenges that come with coordinating the safety of hundreds of students and staff at once.”
Fire Crews Check Air Inside School
Portland Fire and Rescue crews used air monitors throughout the response to determine whether the building remained safe.
Johnson said the gases produced during the incident had a strong odor, but she emphasized that being able to smell the gases did not necessarily mean someone had been exposed to a harmful concentration.
“The gases present are very pungent, which means people can smell them at very low concentrations, well below levels that would cause harm,” Johnson explained.
She added that the odors generally trigger a protective response that encourages people to leave the affected area. According to Johnson, no one else inside the building was affected by inhaling the gases or required additional medical attention.
“So the key message here is this: smelling the gas does not mean that you inhaled a dangerous amount or a harmful amount,” Johnson said.
School Staff Praised for Quick Evacuation
Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong praised Benson High School Principal Curtis Wilson Jr. and school staff for their rapid response.
“I do want to say thank you to the Benson High School staff and Principal Wilson for their quick reaction and evacuation of the school,” Armstrong said. “Their actions helped to keep our students safe and take care of the injured student until help arrived.”
Armstrong also praised students for remaining calm and orderly during the evacuation.
“I want students to know that their safety is always our highest priority and the way they handled themselves was remarkable,” she said.
The building was subsequently cleared by Portland Fire and Rescue for occupancy after the hazardous material was cleaned up and air testing confirmed that it was safe.
Classes Set to Resume After School Emergency
Although classes were canceled Wednesday as officials continued addressing the aftermath, students were allowed to return to the school to pick up their belongings.
Armstrong said staff members were also permitted to access the building, and classes were expected to resume normally Thursday. The school is also making its trauma intervention program available to students in the coming days.
Officials said the support is intended to help students who may have been affected emotionally by the unexpected emergency and evacuation.
Meanwhile, investigators continue working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, including where the chemicals came from and why the student decided to mix and inhale them.
For now, authorities say the teenager is expected to survive, while the school has been determined safe for students and staff to return.
What do you think about the quick response from school staff and emergency crews during this incident? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
