École Émilie-Tremblay has been closed for the day after a gas leak was detected at the school.

Whitehorse Fire Department platoon chief David Dowie told the Star firefighters responded after school staff reported smelling propane in the building this morning.

He said the smell of gas could also be detected outside the school on Falcon Drive.

Firefighters shut down the propane tanks and ventilated the building.

Yukon government maintenance personnel then took over the matter to track down the source of the gas leak.

Kyle Nightingale, a Department of Education spokesperson, said students were kept safely outside of the school, as advised by the fire department.

They were kept warm on school buses under staff supervision.

Nightingale noted that the health and safety of staff and students are a priority for the department.

Parents have been advised that the school and nearby daycare are closed for the day.

The Education department has said it will update parents about when the school will reopen as soon as it has more information.