ORWELL TOWNSHIP -- Hundreds of students were sent home early from a school district in Bradford County Monday.
It happened after a boiler malfunctioned at Northeast Bradford High School, sending smoke into the school's hallways and classrooms.
There were no injuries, but about 800 kids escaped the last couple hours of classes because of smoke billowing throughout part of the school.
"I’ve just started here three weeks ago. What went through my mind is, ‘What’s going on?’ I was a little nervous. I’m still learning about the mechanical systems here in our school district," acting superintendent Bill Clark said.
District officials say the boiler malfunctioned in the high school basement. The fire alarm went off and smoke backed up into hallways and classrooms.
The buildings were evacuated, but the windy temperatures made the outside almost as uncomfortable as the inside.
"It was freezing and it added to all our emotions, so it was pretty terrifying," said student Hailey Fisher.
Students were sent home at 1 p.m. They're glad the school was not on fire, but also happy they were let go from school a few hours early.
"It is really nice to be out of school early," Lucy Parks said.
Northeast Bradford school officials are now trying to figure out what caused the boiler to malfunction. They also want to make sure the air quality inside the high school is safe before they allow classes to resume.
They’re not sure how long that might take but are hoping to reopen the school Tuesday.
