Calif. high school evacuated, is teacher making bombs?

(CBS/KOVR/AP) LIVINGSTON, Calif. - A Central California high school was evacuated Wednesday as authorities investigate reports that a chemistry teacher may have been making explosives.

In a related development, the teacher in question, Japhia Huhndorf, was arrested Monday for allegedly helping three students at Livingston High School ingest chloroform, according to CBS affiliate KOVR.

After interviewing Huhndorf and students, police now believe she also may have stored chemicals used to make explosives in her classroom, KOVR reported.

About 1,100 students were evacuated Wednesday,. and Sgt. Ray Fong says a hazardous material team and bomb squad were going into the school to investigate. Fong did not specify what chemicals they're looking for.

The 34-year-old Huhndorf is being held on suspicion of felony child endangerment in the chloroform case. The chemical can cause feelings of euphoria, but in high levels can cause unconsciousness or even death.

Police said Tuesday that the 34-year-old teacher helped three male students at Livingston High inhale the anesthetic at least three times over the past five months. They say it happened during after-school study hall sessions.

"The only thing we've been able to figure out is the teacher didn't feel it was an issue. She thought it was okay for them to do that," said Livingston Police Sgt. Ray Fong.

However, one of the teens who allegedly inhaled the chloroform tells KOVR his teacher is innocent.

"She's paying the price for our stupidity, the cops are blowing it out of proportion," said the teen.

He says Hundorph did not know and was not in the room when he tried the drug.