Penn Kidder Campus temporarily evacuated Tuesday for a diesel fuel leak in the boiler room.

Administrators praised faculty and first responders for quickly addressing the issue.

“There was a smell predominantly near the cafeteria and gymnasium, and that was something that was concerning. The kids did an evacuation with the teachers to the parking lot area,” said John Rushefski, Superintendent of Jim Thorpe Area School District.

The leak was reported around 10 a.m. The district said no one was sickened by the leak.

Fire crews responded to investigate the leak. Around the same time, the district’s facilities staff had identified a diesel leak in the boiler room. They were able to contain the leak.

“Our in-house people were able to zero in on it, and had it fixed before the fire companies came to do their evaluation,” Rushefski said.

Students spent about 30 minutes outside as the building was cleared. The district made arrangements to take them to another indoor location to get them out of the cold, but they weren’t needed.

After fire crews gave the OK to return to the building, students finished the school day in their classrooms. Lunch was delayed.

Rushefski said the district is looking at the cause of the leak, and whether it was related to a fuel delivery the school received on Thursday. He said the boiler has been in the school since it opened 20 years ago.

He credited new Building & Grounds Director Randy Smale, whose first day was on Monday, and HVAC technician Chris West for fixing the leak, and the faculty for successfully evacuating students.

Crews with Penn Forest Vol. Fire Co. No. 2, Lake Harmony and Lehighton Ambulance, and Kidder Township Police responded to the incident.

“We were back teaching and learning in no time at all. It was a coordinated effort,” Rushefski said.