Premier Roger Cook guarantees Hazmat-affected Maddington schools safe for students after cleaning
Prime Minister Roger Cook has assured six state school sites will be safe for hundreds of students returning at the start of Term 2, a week after the Maddington area was blanketed in toxic smoke from a fire at a lithium-ion battery recycling facility.
“I have received a report of this and I understand that all schools have been subjected to a thorough cleaning,” Mr Cook told reporters on Sunday.
“Therefore, we do not anticipate any danger to students when they return to school for Term 2.”
Seven days after the site went up in flames on April 12, a Hazmat incident warning was still in place on Sunday as firefighters continued to remove hazardous materials from the site at Burwash Place in Maddington.
The Ministry of Health advised citizens experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, burning eyes or confusion to leave the area and seek medical help.
A Department for Education spokesman said its top priority was the health and safety of students.
On the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, precautionary cleaning was carried out in the area where six public schools are located before they opened on Monday.
The ministry was supporting schools to ensure minimal disruption before bringing students back to the classroom.
Affected public schools include Maddington Primary School and Education Support Centre, Bramfield Park Primary School, East Maddington Primary School, East Kenwick Primary School, Orange Grove Primary School, Yule Brook College and Dellar Road Engagement Centre.
