A 15-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday morning after inhaling toxic fumes from a chemical mixture he allegedly created in the cafeteria of Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon.
School employees, including the school nurse, initiated life-saving efforts upon finding the student unwell. Portland Fire & Rescue arrived at the scene around 8:30 a.m. and took over care. The student was transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
Authorities stated the teenager brought chemicals from home and mixed them in the school's cafeteria. Students reported smelling a chemical odor described as similar to methane or sulfuric gas. Alarms sounded, and students initially believed it might lead to a brief lockdown. Approximately 15 minutes later, an evacuation order was issued.
Students were directed to Buckman Field Park and then sent home for the remainder of the day. A hazardous materials team responded to the scene to neutralize the liquid on the cafeteria floor and prevent further off-gassing.
Portland Fire & Rescue clarified that the student inhaled the fumes rather than drinking the mixture, as initially suspected. Officials noted that two unlabeled gallon jugs of chemicals were involved in the incident.
Portland Police spokesperson Mike Benner confirmed the student was still in critical condition but expected to survive. He also stated that authorities were reviewing a social media post related to the event as part of their investigation.
Kimberlee Armstrong, superintendent of Portland Public Schools, called the incident "devastating, stressful and scary" and confirmed that school administrators were cooperating with emergency responders and law enforcement. Classes were canceled for Wednesday and were scheduled to resume on Thursday.
