Medford High School emptied out Monday after a sewage backup filled one of its hallways with a strong odor, forcing an evacuation that sent students and staff home for the rest of the day. No injuries were reported, and the building was ordered closed through the end of the school day.
Firefighters were called to the school around 11 a.m. Monday after reports of a strong sewer smell in a hallway, according to WCVB. The school said it was instructed to evacuate and close the building, and crews from the Medford Fire Department remained on scene monitoring the situation as the response unfolded.
A drain company was called in to locate the source of the backup and clear the blockage, the station's report states. As of Monday afternoon, no injuries had been reported, according to 7News WHDH, which confirmed that classes were canceled and the school would remain closed for the rest of the day.
Scramble to Sort Out Rides and After-School Plans
With students and staff dismissed early, school officials turned their attention to logistics. WHDH reported that officials were working to coordinate transportation for students while also figuring out what to do about after-school activities. Medford Public Schools said no decision had been made yet on after-school programs or athletic events, per Boston 25 News.
The disruption was limited to Medford High School. All other schools in the Medford district stayed on their normal schedules Monday, per the same wcvb.com account, with the sewage issue isolated to the high school building itself.
What Comes Next
As of Monday afternoon, the cause of the backup had not been identified, and it remained unclear when the building would reopen or whether the closure would extend beyond the day. The situation continued to develop as crews worked to locate and clear the blockage while fire officials stayed on site monitoring conditions inside the school.
