EAST PROVIDENCE — Students and staff at East Providence High School were evacuated from the building around noon time Thursday, March 29, in response to a potential bomb threat.

City public safety personnel rushed to the scene. Initial reports stated no one was injured. The incident was under investigation.

According to East Providence Fire Chief Oscar Elmasian firefighters as well as East Providence Police officers and state fire marshal representatives were responding to a report of a "suspicious package" on the EPHS grounds.

As of approximately 1:30 p.m., students and staff were allowed to leave the premisses. It was at that point, Chief Elmasian said, a total "sweep" of the building was going to take place. The assessment included using the services of a bomb-sniffing dog at the scene as part of mutual aid with the Providence Police K-9 Unit.

School Committee Chairman Charlie Tsonos said public safety personnel were answering  to a "vague threat" phoned  into the high school earlier in the day. He said school administrators were also near the scene, monitoring the situation at the Senior Center across the street  from EPHS.

Superintendent Kathryn Crowley could be seen in front of EPHS engaging with members of local law enforcement at around the time of the formal dismissal. Other senior staff members were manning positions at the Senior Center and neighboring Providence Country Day, from which grounds students began departing the area.

As they did just about 10 days earlier, on March 20 during a public meeting on school safety, the chairman added both administrators and school committee members would avail themselves to parents in response to any questions or concerns they may have about the matter.

— This story is developing and will be updated when more information is available.