Ten people have been taken to hospital after a suspected chemical leak in the kitchen at Crieff Primary School.
Police, fire and ambulance crews – including an incident response unit and hazmat specialists – were called to the building Broich Road on Thursday after several members of staff reported feeling unwell.
Part of the building was cordoned off and the school was evacuated.
It is understood some Tayside Contracts canteen, cleaning and janitorial staff who were in the building on Thursday were among those being checked over in hospital.
Perth and Kinross Council said the fire service had not identified any evidence of spillages or leaks that may have led to illness, but tests will continue to identify the cause.
The school will stay shut on Friday.
A deep clean of facilities will take place over the weekend as an additional precautionary measure before the school reopens on Monday.
An NHS Tayside spokesperson said: “Ten adults attended the emergency department at Ninewells Hospital as a precaution.
“All have undergone clinical assessment and no one has any immediate medical concerns.
“The majority of patients have already been discharged after being seen.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.30am on Thursday, we were called to a report of a potential chemical leak within a school in Broich Road, Crieff.”
The Scottish Ambulance Service said “multiple resources” were sent to the scene, including three special response teams.
A spokesperson said: “We received a call at 11.06am to attend an incident on Broich Road, Crieff.
“We dispatched multiple resources to the scene including four ambulances and three special operation response teams.”
Crieff Primary School evacuated after ‘chemical incident in kitchen’
Sheena Devlin, Perth and Kinross Council’s strategic lead for children and families, said: “The wellbeing of our children and our staff is our priority and so we have decided to keep the school closed on Friday as a precautionary measure.
“We understand the concern this incident will have caused but would like to reassure parents, carers and pupils that we are working closely with our partners in NHS Tayside and Scottish Fire and Rescue to understand why some staff felt unwell.”
According to a message sent directly to parents, the incident was caused by an “undisclosed fault” in the school’s kitchen.
The email said: “All staff and children are out of the building and safe.
“Please collect your child/children from the Strathearn Campus as soon as possible.
“ISP (intensive support provision class) please collect from the class playground.
“Once further details are known, we will update you.”
Parents react to Crieff Primary School emergency incident
Eunice Logan was called to pick up her 11-year-old son, Eddie.
She told The Courier: “My husband got the message saying something had happened at the school.
“The pictures began emerging online. It was scary to see the images.
“You’re thinking, ‘What’s happening?'”
Eddie was taken to the neighbouring high school assembly hall with fellow pupils.
Eunice added: “The school have dealt with the situation really well.
“Some children were a bit upset just with everything that was going on.”
Another parent claimed some youngsters were in tears as the drama unfolded.
She said: “I saw the pictures on social media and was surprised to see what was going on.
“Due to them being evacuated, some of the kids were upset and crying.
“There are still a lot of emergency services at the scene this afternoon.”
‘It was unsettling to hear the sirens’
Sarah Robertson, whose daughter also attends the school, told The Courier: “My husband said it was all cordoned off with a lot of emergency presence there.
“It was unsettling to hear all those sirens and not know where they were going.
“When I heard they were at the school, I was very worried, but I trust all the staff at Crieff Primary School to keep my child safe and their quick response to make sure all the children were at a safe location.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was called to the scene to assist paramedics just before 11.30am on Thursday.
Crews started to leave the area at around 6pm.
We have asked Tayside Contracts for comment.
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