LICKING COUNTY, Ohio — Dozens of people, including high school students and staff, were hospitalized from a gas leak inside a career and technical center in Licking County Friday morning, according to the Newark Division of Fire.
The fire department said firefighters and crews from multiple other agencies responded to Career & Technology Education Centers on Price Road around 9:55 a.m. The fire department added that a natural gas leak occurred inside the building.
Newark Assistant Fire Chief Neal Murphy said a piece of heating equipment in the cosmetology lab malfunctioned and put natural gas into the room. Some students also reported having difficulty breathing as a result.
Authorities said 45 people, including 43 students and two adults, were taken to Licking Memorial Hospital for treatment and there are no life-threatening injuries. C-TEC of Licking County posted on social media that some of those who were treated were students.
Maintenance crews were able to shut the gas off to appliances and get the gas out.
People are returning to the building, according to the fire department.
This is a developing story. Stay with 10TV for more updates.