Staff at Sunnyside Elementary in South Surrey were asked to lock the school's doors to outsiders for a brief period Friday afternoon, following an abandoned 911 call.
Sgt. Alanna Dunlop told Peace Arch News the request was made around 1 p.m. Dec. 2, as officers responded to a possible incident "about three blocks away" from the 2828 159 St. school.
"It was an abandoned 911 call with limited information," Dunlop said.
Multiple sirens and a helicopter could be heard in the area as police responded.
Dunlop said the lockout was lifted about 40 minutes later, after officers responding were unable to locate the source and deemed the emergency unfounded.
According to a note to parents posted to the school's website by principal Faizel Rawji, there was "no direct threat or risk to the safety of our students."
"Surrey RCMP asked our school to go into a lockout as a precaution while officers conducted an investigation in the area," the notice states.
"After about 30 minutes, we were given the 'all clear'."