At least one student confessed to using a prank, fart spray that led to the evacuations on campus, according to the statement from Principal Dr. Jeff Stichler posted to the Caney Creek website.

“Through the investigative work of the Conroe ISD Police Department and campus administration, we believe that the odor was introduced by a student(s) using a highly concentrated, prank, stink spray called Hensgaukt Fart Spray,” the statement said. “One student has confessed, and we anticipate others may be identified through our ongoing investigation.”

School investigates gas odor in building

School canceled Friday for students after second day of mysterious odor

The statement reiterated the efforts the district took previously to determine the cause of the odor.

“As shared yesterday evening, through extensive testing by outside agencies, our mechanical, ventilation, and sewer systems have all been ruled out as possible causes or sources of the odor. Water samples have been tested and returned no findings. Multiple fire departments have also confirmed the safety of the air quality at our campus. The Caney Creek Fire Department issued a statement today that is linked here (Note: We have included it at the end of this article). We also know there have been no odors when the building is not occupied by students.”

The district and campus is working with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and “will address it to the fullest extent of the Student Code of Conduct and the laws of the State of Texas.”

“We appreciate everyone’s help and support over the last few days and look forward to school resuming on Monday,” Stichler said in the statement.

Several customer reviews on the Amazon listing for the product warn users not to use the product indoors, even for pranks because it bears a similar smell to natural gas an propane.

One reviewer from April 27 wrote: “The chemical appears to be the same as what is added to natural gas and propane. My first use caused the person being pranked to bring out his gas meter detector. I didn’t blame him as it smelled just like natural gas or propane when leaking!! Wow! The meter was going off like crazy, and almost got the fire department called!!! Using the same odor as one that is used to save lives isn’t funny. Very disappointed.”

Another reviewer wrote: “This smells like (liquid propane) gas, instead of getting a laugh, you get pure panic, they think they have a LP gas leak. Don’t waste your money.”

Fart sprays have been known to hospitalize teenagers in the past. According to a 2013 article in local newspaper Patch, six campers in Harford County, Maryland, were sent to a local hospital for treatment and noted that the spray is “known to cause respiratory and eye irritation.”

In some states, like this case out of Washington, using fart sprays has led to felony arrests, although no charges have yet been filed.

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Caney Creek Fire and Rescue initially released a statement Friday, May 5, addressing the concerning odor that has been going around the building since Wednesday, May 3. 

The department has been in close contact with the administration since the incident occurred. Today, administration informed it that there have been no bizarre odors. 

“It is concerning that with the school not occupied there have been no reports of any odors,” read the statement. 

Although students did not attend school today, staff and faculty did. They gathered for a meeting in the cafeteria at 9:00 a.m. where Superintendent Dr. Curtis Null and incoming principal and current associate principal of instruction Dr. Terri Benson debriefed the string of events from this week and the one before.

Caney Creek Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the school where they checked the building with gas detection equipment on Wednesday, May 3. However they did not find any signs of gas. 

Yesterday, The Woodlands and Conroe Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Response Teams were were called to assist in the investigation of the strange odor. After the two HMRT’s performed multiple tests and confirmed with the department, Fire Chief Raymond Flannelly says the air quality of the building is safe. 

“Both Hazardous Materials Response Teams obtained air samples, and used gas monitoring equipment and were unable to detect anything of suspicion,” he said in the statement. 

Full statement from the fire department:

Gallery • 7 Photos

Photo: Stephen Green

Art teacher Angel Alvarado waits in the Commons before a faculty meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, May 5 a day after evacuating the building due to a mysterious odor.