Six habanero peppers are being blamed for Monday afternoon’s hazmat situation at a Lakewood school.

At about 1 p.m. Monday, a skin reaction sent seven students from Jefferson County Open School to hospitals, and about two dozen others were decontaminated on site before the school was evacuated.

Jefferson County Public Schools released a statement Tuesday saying that members of the environmental services team found pieces of about six habanero peppers scattered in the wood chips of the playground where the children had the mysterious reaction.

Investigators don’t know how the peppers got onto the playground.

District officials are washing the playground and equipment to ensure there is no more oil from the peppers.

The wood chips where the habanero peppers were found will be replaced.

School will be back in session Wednesday.