Recent carbon monoxide and propane leaks require safety measures in Broward County Public Schools

BROWARD COUNTY, Florida. — Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn issued a safety update Monday after concerns were raised following a propane leak at an elementary school and a carbon monoxide leak at a high school less than a week apart.

Hepburn’s attention to the situation comes after Oriole Elementary School at 3081 NW 39th St. in Lauderdale Lakes had to be evacuated Monday morning due to a propane leak near the kitchen, which required one person to be hospitalized, according to authorities.

Just days earlier, a carbon monoxide leak at Cypress Bay High School, 18600 Vista Park Blvd. in Weston, sent four staff members and a firefighter to the hospital. Authorities said the campus was evacuated after the leak was discovered in the cafeteria.

Hepburn spoke about both incidents on Monday.

“We discovered that we do not have carbon monoxide detectors in our kitchens and cafeterias,” Hepburn said.

Florida law requires buildings constructed after July 1, 2008, to have at least one approved carbon monoxide detector.

However, Hepburn told Local 10 News that there are currently no regulations or laws requiring the use of these detectors in Broward schools.

“We will do everything humanly possible to ensure that our facilities have that extra layer of safety in place so that we can detect these gases sooner rather than later,” he added.

Nikeisha Porter, a Broward mother, shared her concerns with Local 10’s Layron Livingston, saying, “It’s shocking that none of the schools in the district have a detector. If it’s not there, it’s a safety risk.”

This problem is not new.

In 2018, five people, including three children, were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning at Carol City Elementary in Miami-Dade County.

Weeks after the incident, the district installed detectors in all kitchens and conducted a thorough review and inspection.

“If something happens, we’ll take care of it,” Hepburn said. “Some things are very difficult to predict when it comes to certain types of leaks and similar problems.”

Porter added: “Ultimately, I hope they try to solve the problem… I hope so.”

Looking ahead, Hepburn said the next step will be to solicit estimates and bids to install detectors in all kitchens and cafeterias across the district.

There is currently no timeline or cost estimate, but Hepburn hopes to present the proposal to the school board soon.