2 hurt in chemical reaction at Hoffman Estates High

Two Hoffman Estates High School staff members were taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon following a chemical reaction at a science lab which forced an evacuation.

The staff members were transported only as a precautionary measure and are fine, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 spokesman Tom Petersen said. No students were hurt.

After-school activities are going on as scheduled, Peterson said, including evening adult education courses. He anticipates classes to be in session on Friday.

The incident happened around 12:45 p.m. inside an area where chemicals for science classes are stored, Petersen said. Teachers typically prepare experiments for class in these areas, and no students were around, Petersen added. Officials continue to investigate, and Petersen could not say what chemicals were involved or how the spill occurred.

Some of the chemicals caused smoke, and a fire alarm was pulled, Petersen said. That forced a temporary evacuation. Students eventually were allowed to return to the school gymnasium, where they were held until the dismissal time of 2:45 p.m. while the fire department performed air quality tests.