Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs was briefly evacuated after a cellphone battery started smoking inside a bathroom Tuesday morning, officials said.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to the scene around 7:45 a.m., and the incident was resolved about an hour and a half later, department spokesperson Ashley Franco said.

Franco said students initially saw the smoking phone and pulled the fire alarm. About 22 fire personnel came minutes later and found the smoking phone, which contained a lithium battery.

Commonly used in phones, Franco said lithium batteries will exhibit toxic fumes when they start smoking and can cause an ignition if not properly handled.

“We were able to remove the battery before it could explode or catch on fire,” Franco said.

Medical responders examined an estimated 26 students who were in close proximity to the incident and determined that six students had minor injuries, but nothing that warranted hospitalization, Franco said.

Jessica Wise, a spokesperson for District 11, said the school will continue to monitor the health of the affected students and keep in contact with families as needed throughout the day.

The Fire Department’s hazmat team monitored the school’s air quality, and determined it was safe to go back inside at around 9:30 a.m.

Wise said the rest of the class schedule at Mitchell will continue as usual, with only the first set of classes being affected.

“We’re thankful for our partnership with the fire and police departments. That partnership keeps small incidents from becoming a bigger ones,” Wise said.

Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs was briefly evacuated after a cellphone battery started smoking inside a bathroom Tuesday morning, officials said.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to the scene around 7:45 a.m., and the incident was resolved about an hour and a half later, department spokesperson Ashley Franco said.

Franco said students initially saw the smoking phone and pulled the fire alarm. About 22 fire personnel came minutes later and found the smoking phone, which contained a lithium battery.

Commonly used in phones, Franco said lithium batteries will exhibit toxic fumes when they start smoking and can cause an ignition if not properly handled.

“We were able to remove the battery before it could explode or catch on fire,” Franco said.

Medical responders examined an estimated 26 students who were in close proximity to the incident and determined that six students had minor injuries, but nothing that warranted hospitalization, Franco said.

Jessica Wise, a spokesperson for District 11, said the school will continue to monitor the health of the affected students and keep in contact with families as needed throughout the day.

The Fire Department’s hazmat team monitored the school’s air quality, and determined it was safe to go back inside at around 9:30 a.m.

Wise said the rest of the class schedule at Mitchell will continue as usual, with only the first set of classes being affected.

“We’re thankful for our partnership with the fire and police departments. That partnership keeps small incidents from becoming a bigger ones,” Wise said.