Sheriff’s Office says furnace problem at Crandon School caused carbon monoxide issue, 39 treated

CRANDON, Wis. (WSAW) - The Forest County Sheriff’s Office has released new details about an incident that sickened dozens and prompted an evacuation at the Crandon School District.

In all, 39 people received medical care after becoming ill. Two had elevated levels of carbon monoxide. Authorities said a mechanical issue with the furnace created elevated levels of carbon monoxide inside the school.

An update from Interim District Administrator Kirby Schultz explained as soon as the issue was identified, the school district contacted their third-party heating and cooling vendor to help investigate the issue further and come up with a repair plan. Crews were on-site Friday working on the mechanical issue. The district says all the furnaces in the district will be tested to make sure the issue is fully resolved.

The district says the school will remain closed on Friday.

On Thursday, the Forest County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the school and was told two students and one staff member became ill with the same type of symptoms. They were all transported to the hospital. Students were immediately taken outside to reduce any possible further exposure, according to authorities.

The Crandon Fire Department and the Forest County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Crandon School District and began an investigation into the possible cause of the illnesses. The Crandon Fire Department checked the elementary school for any harmful gases and they did not locate any. The Forest County Sheriff’s Office deployed both K9s Atlas and Thunder to classrooms and lockers. The classrooms and lockers were searched with negative results of any contraband or illegal substances being located.

In a letter to families and staff, the School District of Crandon Superintendent Kirby Schultz stated:

“This afternoon, at approximately 1 p.m., we began to receive reports that a few of our students were experiencing shortness of breath, light-headedness, and increased pulse rate. As the day progressed, several staff members also reported these symptoms. In response to these concerns, we made the decision to evacuate the building and sought assistance from the Sheriff’s Department to help us determine the cause of these symptoms.

Despite our best efforts, we were unable to identify a specific cause. With the safety of our students and staff as our top priority, we made the difficult decision to cancel school for the remainder of the day. This action was taken to ensure the well-being of our school community and to allow for a more thorough investigation of our building systems.

We have law enforcement and other relevant authorities remaining on-site as we continue our investigation into the cause of today’s events. At this time, the investigation remains ongoing, and as a precaution, we have decided to cancel school tomorrow, Friday, March 15, 2024, as well as all after-school events tonight and tomorrow.

We understand the inconvenience and concern this may cause and assure you that we are working diligently to resolve this situation as quickly and safely as possible. The health and safety of our students and staff are our utmost concern, and we are committed to keeping you informed as we learn more.

Further updates will be provided as soon as they are available.”

The Oneida County HazMat and Wausau HazMat Teams were requested by the Forest County Sheriff’s Office to assist.

Copyright 2024 WSAW. All rights reserved.