Delhi students return to class after precautionary evacuation

A possible gas leak forced a brief evacuation Thursday morning of El Capitan Elementary School in Delhi as a precaution.

Merced County firefighters said no leak was detected and students returned to class a short time later.

Adolfo Melara, superintendent of Delhi Unified School District, said about 50 students were moved to another area of the campus for about two hours while firefighters and utilities crews searched for signs of a leak.

A kindergarten teacher reported smelling a possible leak around 9:55 a.m.

“All those drills they practice really paid off,” Melara said. “The staff and students all did a great job; there was no disorder. Everyone did what they were supposed to do.”

About 450 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade, attend the school.

This story was originally published January 15, 2015 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Delhi students return to class after precautionary evacuation."