Local News in Brief : Leak Forces Evacuation

Gasoline leaking from a 10,000-gallon underground tank at a private school in Sherman Oaks Friday forced the evacuation of about 350 students, authorities said.

The leak at the Buckley School was reported just before 10 a.m., said City Fire Department spokesman Jim Williamson. The students whose classrooms were located nearest the tank were evacuated to another part of the school about 11 a.m., Williamson said. School was dismissed at 11:30 for the holiday weekend.

Gasoline from the tank, which is located on the side of a hill, leaked into the ground under a gymnasium and up into the building, which also houses a swimming pool, Williamson said. About 70 firefighters and a hazardous materials unit helped to clean up the leaking fuel. Most of the firefighters were released by 4 p.m. Fire officials said they do not know what caused the leak or how much gas actually escaped.