A Hudson Valley day care center had to be evacuated early Tuesday morning.

Wallkill Police responded to the On May Way Child Care located on 12 Riverside Drive in the Town of Wallkill for reports of a strong odor coming from inside the building.

Upon arrival officers were met by the center’s staff who had already evacuated 157 students. Most of the students were pre-school aged.

Members of the Mechanicstown Fire Department working with the Town’s Building Department and Orange & Rockland determined that the odor was caused by an over-heated lighting ballast.

At 11:08 am, students and staff returned to the buildings, after the ballast was repaired.

The operation was coordinated with assistance from Town of Wallkill OEM Co-Director Commissioner Lou Ingrassia Jr. and OEM Coordinator Joe Andre. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Town of Wallkill Volunteer Ambulance Corp also provided assistance.

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