Chemical Smell Prompts Middle School Evacuation

HIALEAH (CBSMiami.com) – A Hialeah middle school was evacuated Monday morning after a strong chemical smell filled the air.

Hialeah Fire spokesman Cesar Espinosa said nearly two dozen students at Jose Marti Middle, located at 5701 W 24th Avenue, complained of watery eyes and not feeling well from the ammonia like smell.  Fourteen children were taken to Palmetto General Hospital to be checked out.

Firefighters searched the school for the source of the smell but Espinosa said all their test readings came back as negative.

The students were kept outside the building for several hours until it was deemed safe.  Fire crews were not able to determine the cause of the smell.