Wareham High School was evacuated for about an hour on Thursday, January 5, due to a small gas leak.

An administrator smelled a gas odor just after 9:30 a.m. and alerted the Wareham Fire Department.

Firefighters and a gas inspector determined the cause was a small valve in the science lab that would not close, said Wareham High School Principal Scott Palladino. The valve supplies gas to the classroom's Bunsen burners.

"It was a real small issue, but we just wanted to err on the side of caution," said Palladino.

The students were evacuated and moved next door to Wareham Middle School to stay warm.

The school was aired out and "we were back in here in time for lunch," Palladino said.