At least 20 people were injured during a pep rally Thursday morning at Atlantic Community High School, according to Delray Beach Fire Rescue.
The school district said the pep rally was organized to get students excited for tests called the Florida Standards Assessments. The district says a seasoned performer intended to blow fire and an accident occurred.
The performer suffered burns and was transported as a trauma alert to Delray Medical Center, fire rescue said. The extent of his injuries is unclear.
Several students were treated for breathing problems. A total of 20 patients were treated, according to fire rescue. Less than half needed to be taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
"The school staff was quick to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher and unfortunately, due to the powder from the extinguisher, there were a few inhalation injuries. All in all, we did transport eight individuals from the school. Only one was transported as a trauma alert the other seven were transported for non-life threatening injuries," said Delray Beach Fire Rescue Capt. Ed Beardsley.
The district said there was no explosion.
A student said administrators and teachers did a good job keeping students calm.
The school has contacted parents if their child suffered inhalation problems and classes have now resumed.
ACHS: all student complaints were respiratory in nature. Only burn victim was adult performer. Patients transported by our crews and @PBCFR.
— Delray Beach Fire (@DelrayBeachFire) March 17, 2016
ACHS update: 20 patients treated, 8 transported - 1 adult, 7 students. Students with non-life-threatening info, adult with serious injuries.
— Delray Beach Fire (@DelrayBeachFire) March 17, 2016
ACHS: Hired performer caught fire, suffered burns. Students complained of respiratory difficulty after fire extinguished with extinguisher.
— Delray Beach Fire (@DelrayBeachFire) March 17, 2016
There was no explosion. Performer transported to hospital. Classes resuming as scheduled. Principal calling families.
— PBCSD (@pbcsd) March 17, 2016
