North Star school district officials say the high school will operate under a flexible instruction day on Friday as authorities with the EPA conduct air quality testing at the building overnight following an incident that reportedly sent dozens of students to the hospital for evaluation.
North Star Superintendent Louis Lepley says the incident began when several students reported feeling ill while local EMS crews were on scene to conduct a training exercise with the student body.
Local officials say six students were initially treated at UPMC Somerset for what is believed to be the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
A UPMC spokesperson says that, as of Thursday afternoon, over 30 patients were treated at the hospital for similar symptoms.
Emergency officials say multiple fire departments, as well as the county EMA director, conducted several CO/CO2 tests at the school, with negative results.
A PEMA spokesperson says that Somerset County contacted their agency earlier Thursday about the incident at the school but notes that officials have not requested any other state assistance.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation.