JACKSON TWP — Hundreds of students were evacuated briefly from Seneca Valley High School this morning after a vent malfunction on the roof, which sent light smoke through the third floor of the school.

Linda Andreassi, Seneca Valley School District director of communications, said three buildings at the district’s secondary campus partially lost electricity about 10:15 a.m. because of an off-campus accident.

That accident caused the power outage, which then caused a power surge in a vent on the roof of the high school. That vent then malfunctioned, which caused a slight odor and small amounts of smoke to filter into the school.

Andreassi said the students were evacuated to the intermediate high school as a precaution, but the evacuation only lasted about 20 minutes because fire crews deemed the building safe.

Crews with the Harmony Volunteer Fire Department examined the school, and then students and staff resumed their days about 11:15 a.m.

Andreassi said at no time was there a fire at the school.

“There was about an hour of not knowing when the power would come back on, but Penn Power was great in keeping us updated,” Andreassi said shortly after noon.

“Right now everyone is back online, there’s lunches being served and it’s business as usual.”