PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia officials are trying to figure out where a vial of acid came from after it broke in the basement of the Julia Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School and caused a cloud of smoke.
School officials evacuated the school at N. 17th and Spring Garden streets Tuesday afternoon as a precaution after reports of smoke in the basement and hallways.
Officials gave the all-clear after roughly 20 minutes and allowed students to finish out the first day of school.
Hazmat was later called in after investigators found a substance in the basement.
A law enforcement source familiar with the case said it turned out to be acid.
The school district confirmed that the substance was non-toxic and wasn't anything to cause further alarm.
Several parents at the school told Action News they were happy with how administrators notified them through voicemail about the evacuation.
Philadelphia officials determining origin of 'non-toxic' acid that caused school evacuation
