In response to the January 20, 2026, Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District (KGBSD) statement of an individual reporting possible overexposure to diesel fumes at the Point Higgins Elementary School site, the Borough has secured additional air quality testing.
Immediately following the report, the North Tongass Fire Department conducted an initial air measurement test which detected no organic fumes.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Borough has contracted with Nortech Environmental Services to conduct air sampling throughout the Point Higgins Elementary building to verify that the air quality levels remain at or better than safe thresholds for occupancy. Nortech will be on site on January 22.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
For more information on the August 15, 2025, diesel spill, response, and remediation updates, please visit: https://www.kgbak.us/1127/Diesel-Spill-at-Point-Higgins-Elementary
For questions regarding school operations please contact KGBSD Interim Superintendent Sheri Boehlert, at super@k21schools.org
