Onalaska Middle School briefly cleared out because of gas leak, resulting from construction

An accidental gas line break led to a brief evacuation at Onalaska Middle School on Wednesday.

The school district says the gas line was struck inadvertently, during construction happening at the middle school. Xcel Energy and the Onalaska Fire Department inspected the building after students and staff left the school. The gas was turned off inside the school, for the rest of the day, and students were allowed to return to class. The gas disruption led the school to cancel hot lunch for the day, and pizza was ordered for all OMS students, at no charge to their lunch accounts.

Wednesday was the last class day for the Onalaska students before spring break. Classes will resume on Tuesday.