Fire Rescue workers responded to a Hialeah school Monday after several students began complaining about a burning sensation in their eyes, officials said.
About 20 kids at Jose Marti Middle School at 5701 Northwest 24th Avenue were affected around 9 a.m., according to Hialeah Fire Rescue spokesman Cesar Espinosa.
A command post was set up to treat the children and a Hazmat unit was brought in to determine the cause, Espinosa said.
Officials said 20 children were taken to Palmetto General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. More were treated at the scene.
It's believed the situation was caused by someone spraying pepper spray in a stairwell, but the cause is still being investigated, officials said.
The school was evacuated and officials said classes weren't dismissed but any student who wanted to leave would be allowed.
