A natural-gas odor Wednesday morning prompted a large fire and police response and evacuation of a middle school, however authorities determined there was no leak and the odor likely was from Southwest Gas conducting line purges in the area. 

At about 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 8, Maricopa Fire and Medical was called to Maricopa Wells Middle School following reports of the gas odor, evidently from fumes drifting into the area. 

The Fire Department also responded to nearby Maricopa High on a similar report. The high school did not evacuate.   

Readings conducted by MFMD and Southwest Gas crews showed there was no active gas leak.  

There was no danger to students and they were allowed to return to class.  

View a gallery of the scene below:  

Cameron Jobson, Reporter
Cameron Jobson, Reporter
Cameron is the education reporter for InMaricopa. She joined the team in the beginning of 2023, after graduating from the University of Arizona with a BA in Journalism and English. Previously, she reported for the Tucson Weekly, El Inde News and edited for Pine Reads Review. When she's not hammering away on the keyboard, Cameron enjoys reading psychological thrillers, watching reality TV and playing guitar hero.

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