SUFFOLK, Va. — News 3 has obtained security footage of a December incident at Nansemond River High School when a fire extinguisher discharged between classes.
The incident, in which 11 students and one teacher were sent to the hospital and dozens more were evaluated for respiratory irritation, prompted a "mass casualty" designation from authorities.
In the month since, we've been looking into how the fire extinguisher was knocked off the wall, and why it discharged.
Monday, Suffolk fire officials told News 3 the force of the fire extinguisher accidentally being knocked off the wall by a passing student's backpack caused the pin to bend, which then discharged the device.
However, News 3 also obtained the latest inspection report dated January 2023. In the report, several infractions were listed, including missing fire extinguishers in the chorus room and gym. The report stated the fire extinguishers needed to be serviced.
Suffolk
Students sent to hospital after accidental fire extinguisher discharge
Michelle Morgan, public educator with Norfolk Fire, told News 3's Ellen Ice that if extinguishers are not regularly serviced, they become inoperable.
“You want to have that security that it’s going to work, so if I have it serviced I know it’s hydro tested, pressurized, it’s going to go," said Morgan.
During an inspection, she said the fire extinguisher is examined for rust, dents in the cylinder, a rotting or cut hose, and several other items. She said all of those can affect what happens when you squeeze the handle.
Morgan also explained that it's very difficult for an extinguisher to accidentally discharge without someone pulling the pin. Fire officials say the pin was not pulled in this incident, it was the force with which the extinguisher hit the ground that jammed the pin.
“If you’re looking at a fire extinguisher there’s a pin in it, the pin is what you’re going to use to operate this handle, so anytime the pin is removed you can just squeeze the fire extinguisher any kind of way the pin is your security,” said Morgan.
Morgan also said the fire extinguishers in a commercial setting, including schools and churches, need to be inspected annually.
In the report from January 2023 for Nansemond River High School, it says "please address these violations immediately. Non-compliance with this notice of violation could result in court proceedings."
Suffolk fire officials told News 3 that typically infractions need to be corrected within 30 days. A re-check is scheduled at the end of the 30 days.
We asked if a re-inspection ever occurred, and fire officials said it happened in December 2023, 11 months past the initial inspection- and 3 days after the December 12 incident.
See News 3's Ellen Ice's full report above.
