First Responders, led by Oakland Volunteer Fire Department and First Aid Squad, responded to VMS on Route 202 Monday morning. Unconfirmed reports indicate there may have been a chemical spill. There were no reported injuries, but precautions were being taken and Bergen County HazMat teams were on the scene. Oakland volunteers were joined by Fire Departments from neighboring Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes and Waldwick. Oakland Police also responded and assisted in securing the building.
VMS student, reporter Ryan Robinson, was on the scene.
We were in a science room as one of the activity rooms and like a drill, the fire alarms went off. We went outside, put something by the door to keep it open [to get back inside]and lined up outside. We kept waiting as the alarm went off again and again. During that time, myself and other students at VMS were wondering what was going on. Students who came to VMS 2 school years ago, like myself, know many possible reasons the alarm would go off.
On the first day of school during the 06-07 school year, the alarm went off for 1 hour as there was a malfunction with the alarm system. Last school year, we had 2 incidents when the new fire system was put in. Once the alarm went off when it sensed smoke in the school kitchen, and the other time was another malfunction. Well, if you went through 3 “disasters” and now you’ve been waiting outside for already 10 minutes, you know something is up. Waiting for info, we were still standing/sitting outside by a tree on the grass waiting to go back in.
Mr. Glenn Clark, the principal I interviewed when talking about the summer programs (see my article entitled Ryan Robinson Reports on VMS) came over finally to tell us that we would be outside for a while; and, that they think whatever caused the alarm to go off was in Room 5. Shockingly, that was our Science Class teacher’s room! Also the guy I interviewed, Mr. Parra. Interestingly and shocked, he said that he was in there before the class to get some materials and nothing was wrong.
Nobody was hurt, or so I was told, and the littler kids seemed to handle the situation pretty well sitting in the grass exploring the ground they were sitting on.
When my mom picked me up, there was about 3 fire crews, 2 police cars, 1 ambulance, and I did see a car from the OEM (Oakland Emergency Management) Department drive in.
UPDATE- The Day After
“It was a long time to be standing outside.” said an anonymous student.
Students/teachers are reporting that the alarms went off went two toilet bowl cleaners that did not mix came together causing fumes that set off the alarms. Apparantly, janitors were adding cleanser to the bathrooms in the 6th grade wing when the alarm went off. Classes continue like normal and the students are doing just fine after a surprising “fire drill”.