Simeon H.S. chemical spill sends 2 teachers to hospital

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two teachers were injured in a chemical spill at Chicago's Simeon Career Academy, officials said.

Emergency crews arrived at the school, located in the 8100-block of S. Vincennes Avenue, after a chemical reaction occurred while the teachers were preparing for a chemistry lab around 12:30 p.m. Friday, officials said. The school's fire alarm went off, and students were evacuated outside or to designated parts of the building.

Both teachers were hospitalized with minor injuries, officials said. No students were in the classroom at the time of the reaction.

Students said they heard the fire alarm but they weren't sure if it was a potential danger or a false alarm.

"I was coming out of fifth period on the third floor and I walked in the hallway and there was a lot of smoke, you could see that something was on fire or something," said Cierra Hammond, a Simeon senior. "By the time I got to class, the alarms went off and they were like, 'Everybody leave the building.'"

School officials said classes will resume Monday.