Students Evacuate After Smoke Smelled in Novi Elementary School

Students at Novi's Orchard Hills Elementary School were evacuated from the building Friday afternoon after staff smelled smoke in the media center. 

The Novi fire department arrived at the school, 41900 Quince St., to assess the situation, Superintendent Steve Matthews said in an email to parents. 

"The onsite firemen thought that it smelled potentially like an electrical problem so he asked that the building be evacuated until they could identify the problem," he said in the email. 

The evacuated students and staff stayed warm inside buses, which were dispatched to the building to provided temporary shelter, according to the email. Mike Dragoo, the school district's director of maintenance, worked with the fire department to locate the problem, which was likely caused by a belt on a fan that overheated, Matthews said. 

Students and staff safely returned to the building before 1:45 p.m. Friday.

"Everyone is back in their classrooms safe and sound. The problem was located in the computer lab and is being fixed. The students did a great job and have been reassured that they are safe," Principal Pamela G. Quitiquit said in an email to parents. 

Parents with questions or concerns can contact Matthews at 248-449-1204 or smatthews@novi.k12.mi.us.