A “low reading” of a chemical was discovered, Fire and Emergency Southern Communications’ shift manager Blair Walklin said.
A person who answered the phone at St Joseph’s just before 11am told the Herald the school’s principal wasn’t immediately available to speak as she was “busy with parents and the fire people”.
As well as ambulance crews, three appliances were sent from Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade and a specialist hazmat person from Timaru was called in, but stood down before arriving, Fire and Emergency said.