Westland Students,Teachers OK After Mystery Airborne Irritant

Classes are expected to resume Tuesday at Westland High School after the school was evacuated this morning following a mysterious odor that sickened multiple students and teachers. South-Western City Schools spokeswoman Sandy Nekoloff said the Prairie Township Fire Department was called when some teachers and students became nauseated and dizzy after complaining of an unknown odor in a classroom. “My understanding is that it was just an odor, and it was determined by the fire department it is an airborne irritant," Nekoloff said. Prairie Township Fire Chief Steve Feustel said the department still is investigating the source of the irritant. "There’s nothing that was spilled, there’s no powder or anything on the floors…and so it leaves on;y one recourse and that is that because the way it spread through the school it was airborne," Feustel said. Thirteen students and teachers were taken to local emergency rooms, although none was admitted to the hospital. All have been treated and released.