Schools evacuated after toxic chemical spillage in Wick – East Caithness Community Facility closed until further notice
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Two Wick schools were evacuated this morning after a chemical spillage in the East Caithness Community Facility swimming pool and the building is closed until further notice.
Pupils from Wick High School and Newton Park Primary were taken out of the school at around 11.20am today and, according to a source, were allowed back in briefly before being removed again and sent home early.
In a social media post marked "HIGH IMPORTANCE", a Newton Park Primary spokesperson wrote: "There has been an incident regarding High Life Highland building.
"Although our children are safe in the primary school, the kitchen staff have not been allowed to return into the building and therefore we cannot provide lunches for any children. We have been advised to put all children home asap."
It continues: "Can you please come to the school to collect your children from the top entrance – our primary school entrance. There is no access via the high school entrance."
The swimming pool, run by High Life Highland, is open to the public and used by the schools as part of the campus which opened in April 2017. Various issues have been reported with the building over the last few years with the most recent occurring in May last year when panels were ripped from the outside of the gym which led to pupils being sent home. The latest incident is said to involve the release of chlorine used in the swimming pool.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.20am on Friday, March 24 to reports of a chemical spill at a building at Newton Road, Wick.
“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are still at the scene assisting emergency service partners.
“There are no reported casualties at this time.”
A spokesperson for High Life Highland has confirmed that the East Caithness Community Facility will remain closed to the public until further notice.
The spokesperson said: “The location’s emergency procedures were implemented following a chemical-related incident this morning which resulted in the schools and community and sports facilities being evacuated as a precautionary measure.
“Scottish Fire and Rescue Service assessed the situation, allowing school pupils to return to the location to gather belongings, and the building was fully handed back to High Life Highland later in the afternoon."
The spokesperson concluded: “There were no injuries, and High Life Highland has commenced an internal review into the incident."
Further updates will be shared through East Caithness Community Facility’s social media pages.
