A Menifee middle school was placed on lockdown and the sheriff’s bomb squad called out to campus Friday morning after a student lit a firework in an outdoor trash can, authorities said.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
No serious injuries were reported in the small explosion, which occurred about 10:20 a.m. at Ethan A. Chase Middle School. But several children were being evaluated for ringing in the ears, said Sgt. Mike Manning, a spokesman for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials said 18 students were affected by the noise from the blast, five of whom were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Manning said the student who ignited the firework was detained.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Because the student apparently brought several illegal fireworks to school, the sheriff’s Hazardous Device Team was dispatched to investigate.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
School officials said in an announcement posted on the school website that the explosion occurred in the main quad of the 28100 Calm Horizon Drive campus – near Briggs and Simpson roads.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Students were evacuated as a precaution but have since returned to class, the announcement said.
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