Bomb Scare at Lamar High School

“School Cleared, Wednesday Classes Will Be Held as Scheduled”

See updated Press Release at the bottom of this news story.

A bomb scare at Lamar High School cleared the building of students shortly before 2pm Tuesday afternoon, March 22, as Lamar police, firemen and EMT’s responded to maintain order and to offer aid should it be required.  Police blocked the roads leading from the school on Savage Avenue and South 11^th Street, leaving an open path for emergency vehicles.  School administrators alerted parents of the bomb scare so they could bring their children home once the school was ordered closed for the rest of the day.

Students left the building from the main exits at the sound of the fire alarm, and with some teachers and staff, congregated at gathering points outside, safely away from the building. After 10 minutes an announcement from the outside public address system informed the students they were done for the day.  Those who drove to school were let go, while other students lined up to go home in their parent’s vehicle and others walked home, or waited for the school buses to arrive.  The students were not allowed back inside the building. Police and fire officials remained on the scene, waiting until the building had been thoroughly checked out.  Police Chief Gary McCrea said some students alerted school officials they had found a note claiming a bomb was at the school.  School officials then contacted the Lamar police and fire departments.  McCrea told The Prowers Journal all the rooms were being searched to include the roof of the high school, but the preliminary search found no explosives.  The search is continuing as McCrea contacted security officials at Ft. Carson who were en route with a bomb-sniffing dog that would check out the school again from top to bottom.  McCrea said, although Lamar has two police dogs, they were trained to identify only drugs and not explosive material.  He thought Ft. Carson authorities would be in Lamar by 6pm, Tuesday.  Chief McCrea expressed some displeasure at what is probably turning out to be a prank, adding, “This cost to the taxpayer is not right.  It costs the taxpayers to have the entire police and fire department and EMT’s respond to this type of event.”  At that point, he broke away to call school superintendent Soper to bring him up to date on events.

This is the second bomb scare incident in the Lamar school system in about 5 years.  A note found at the Lamar Middle School cleared that building of students while officials went through a similar safety routine of evacuating the students from the facility and getting them safely home.  That note was determined to be a prank.  More information relating to the high school bomb scare will be forthcoming in The Prowers Journal and at theprowersjournal.com.

The Press Release issued by the Lamar School Superintendent, Charles Soper follows:

Lamar High School and Local Emergency Responders respond to Bomb Threat

Lamar, Colorado – March 22, 2011– On Tuesday, March 22, 2011 a note containing a bomb threat that stated that there would be an explosion at the high school at 2:25 pm was found by students at approximately 1:15 pm in a hallway in Lamar High School.  The note was reported immediately, and students and staff were evacuated from the school within 10 minutes.  Local emergency responders were contacted, including police, sheriff, fire and other local agencies. Parents and local media were informed that there was a bomb threat at the high school, high school students had been evacuated and the high school was dismissed.  All students were accounted for by high school staff and administration.  Students were either dismissed to their parents, allowed to drive their own vehicles, or remaining bus students were transferred to another location.

Emergency responders conducted a thorough search of the high school building and found no explosives.  In addition, a bomb-sniffing dog has been deployed by Fort Carson and will be on-site to conduct another thorough sweep for explosives.  Only after the building has been declared clear by the Fort Carson explosives team and the Lamar Chief of Police will the building be declared open for use.  It is anticipated that the sweep by the bomb-sniffing dog will be concluded this evening.  An IRIS phone alert will follow to alert school district parents and patrons when the building is declared open for use.

Press Release from High School Superintendent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Lamar High School and Local Emergency Responders respond to Bomb Threat

Lamar, Colorado – March 22, 2011 – 7:10 PM – As a result of the bomb threat at Lamar High School on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, students and staff were evacuated from the school and the high school was dismissed.  Local emergency responders were contacted, including police, sheriff, fire and other local agencies. Emergency responders have conducted a thorough search of the high school building and found no threat of explosives.  Local law enforcement officials have declared the building clear and safe for school to resume.  Therefore, classes at Lamar High School will resume as normal tomorrow.  An IRIS phone alert will follow to alert school district parents and patrons that the building is clear and safe for school to resume.

Contact:
Charles Soper
Superintendent
Lamar School District RE-2
(719) 336-3251 – telephone
(719) 336- 2817 – fax
charles.soper@lamar.k12.co.us

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