Updated: Hazmat Contains Possible Freon Leak at Stoddert Elementary

Updated 5:20 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7

Hazmat crews have contained the source of the leak at Stoddert elementary. 

"We are winding down our part now," D.C. Fire and EMS Batallion Chief Brian Lee told Patch Friday.

Stoddert Principal Patricia Pride told Patch that an alarm went off around 3:30 p.m. The source, she said, appears to have been a leak from one of the air conditioning units.

Pride said everyone was evacuated, including students in the after school care program.

Lee told Patch that they will not know whether it was freon or another refrigerant until lab tests are performed.

The school and recreation center were closed to the public during the investigation, but have both reopened.

The PTA events planned for the evening were already planned to take place outside and will still be held there.

Original Post

A Hazardous Material unit is on the scene at Stoddert Elementary in Glover Park, investigating a possible freon leak.

D.C. Fire and EMS Batallion Chief Brian Lee told Patch that the call came in for a freon leak at the Glover Park elementary school.

Lee said there were no students involved by the leak and there are no reported injuries.

He said the Hazmat team was "going about normal procedures," to find the source and contain any issues. He said the caller described the leaking substance as freon, but that his units are making a determination if that is in fact the issue.

Patch called both the school's main number and the Department of Parks and Recreation number at Stoddert, but there were no answers.

We will provide updates as new information becomes available.