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Gallup High School evacuated after a malfunctioning unit sent smoke into the building

Firefighters responded Wednesday afternoon to a report of smoke in the building at Gallup High School. Staff evacuated the building in accordance with their plans, and a RAVE alert was activated notifying Metro Dispatch and Gallup Fire before a 911 call was made. The cause was a malfunctioning HVAC unit, the building was cleared and turned back over to staff, and all students and staff are safe.

Gallup Today Staff

Newsroom · September 10, 2026 · 1 min read · Updated

Gallup Fire Department
Gallup Fire Department
Gallup Fire Department
Gallup Fire Department

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Firefighters responded Wednesday afternoon to a report of smoke in the building at Gallup High School, and the cause was found to be a malfunctioning HVAC unit.

Staff evacuated the building in accordance with their plans, and a RAVE alert was activated notifying Metro Dispatch and Gallup Fire before a 911 call was made, the Gallup Fire Department said.

The building was cleared and turned back over to staff. All students and staff are safe, the department said.

Photographs posted with the notice show an engine and an aerial ladder truck outside the school, with the ladder raised toward the roofline and firefighters in turnout gear standing in the lot.

The department called the response an example of how GMCS is prepared to protect its students, saying plans that are practiced were used for real.

Via Gallup Fire Department

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