A gas leak at Lincoln High School this morning resulted in an unexpected day off for students in Ellwood City.

Students at the high school and Hartman Elementary were evacuated from their buildings shortly before 8 a.m., according to Superintendent Frank Aloi.

Firefighters received a call at 7:43 a.m. that a possible gas leak had been detected.

Aloi said teachers noticed a strong gas odor on the third floor of the high school.

“We went on the third floor and we could smell it too. We knew there had to be a reason why,” Aloi said.

They called the police and fire departments and Columbia Gas Co., which was on scene this morning trying to find the source, and the power was shut off.

“They determined it was a gas leak,” Aloi said, but he did not know yet this morning whether the leak was inside or from an outside valve.

“They’re checking it out.”

Because the students were already at school, the incident is considered an emergency, Aloi said, and he has not determined whether the students will have to make up the day.