A strong smell of gas in the air not only forced school children inside Friday but it also had many people calling 911.

Environmential Health Department officials said while it is early in their investigation, operators of the Big West refinery on Rosedale Highway confirmed the company had a valve failure. This could be the source of the gas odor that hit a wide area of Bakersfield Thursday night and Friday morning.

The smell also made about 10 children sick at Freedom Middle School and students at at least two other schools were taken inside because of the odor.

"It was really strong," said student Sean Beeson. "It was like propane, and a lot of it all over."

"My stomach hurt, I had a headache, and my throat was hurting," he said.

Fire officials said they started receiving complaints from the downtown area Thursday night and had many calls from the northwest area Friday.

17 News called officials at the Big West Refinery but the calls were not returned Friday. County health officials said they will continue to investigate and try to confirm the source of the gas odor.