SPARTA, Mich. — Students at two schools in Sparta were removed from the classrooms Wednesday because of a chemical leak at a nearby business.
Sparta High School and Ridgeview Elementary were both evacuated amid an ammonia leak at the Old Orchard facility that neighbors the schools' campus.
We're told no one was injured and the evacuation was precautionary. Students were taken to Sparta Middle School to finish out the school day. Students who can drive were allowed to leave, and parents of younger students could elect to pick them up.
The Sparta Fire Department (SFD) says maintenance staff isolated the leak to a compressor and disabled the product flow. The compressor is believed to be partially responsible for the leak. Kent ISD Empower U and the nearby Corewell Health building were also evacuated.
It's not clear how much ammonia was released.
SFD credits dispatchers, Kent County Emergency Management, Rockford Ambulance, and fire departments from Alpine and Kent City for their assistance.
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