The heavy emergency response outside Westpark Elementary on Thursday had some families and neighbors wondering what was happening. According to the school, the cause was an HVAC problem, not a fire.
Westpark was placed on a brief hold Thursday after staff detected a smell of smoke inside the building. Fire crews responded and inspected the campus as a precaution.
School officials said an HVAC motor had burned out, creating the odor. No active fire was found. Crews addressed the issue and lifted the hold. Normal school operations resumed.
The malfunction did leave the cafeteria without air conditioning. District maintenance crews were working to repair the unit, while the school said it would take measures to keep students and staff comfortable in the meantime.
So for those who saw the fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles around Westpark on Thursday, the large response was precautionary. The school said the campus was safe and thanked emergency personnel for their quick response.
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