An empty classroom. (Photo by Wokandapix from Pixabay)An empty classroom. (Photo by Wokandapix from Pixabay)
Chatham

Smoke and odour at Pain Court High School causes evacuation

A faulty HVAC unit at École secondaire catholique de Pain Court caused a commotion to kick off the school week.

Chatham-Kent (CK) Fire and Rescue reported a burning odour inside the building on Monday morning prompted an evacuation of the school at 14 Notre Dame Street in Pain Court.

A malfunctioning component within a rooftop HVAC unit gets the blame.

"Power to the affected unit was immediately isolated, and repairs are currently underway," said CK Fire. "After confirming that no further hazards were present, firefighters issued an all-clear, allowing students and staff to safely return to class."

Fire officials give school staff credit for their quick action and effective evacuation efforts, saying they contributed "significantly" to maintaining a safe environment for students and supporting a smooth investigation.

Read More Local Stories

Stratford Festival Theatre. Photo by Richard Bain.

Stratford Festival fundraiser hits $45M goal

The achievement arrives at a pivotal moment for the organization, celebrating Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino’s legacy during his final season while positioning the Festival for its next era under incoming Artistic Director Jonathan Church.