Due to smoke damage in the auditorium and adjacent cafeteria caused by a fire that started over the weekend, Pentucket Regional Middle-High School in Massachusetts has canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday.
Around 3 p.m. on Saturday, the fire broke out, causing some damage, but the school’s robotics team acted quickly to save things from getting much worse.
According to preliminary investigations, the fire originated in a rubbish barrel that was used to dispose of sawdust on the theater stage.
Before it caught fire, the sawdust, which had accumulated from continuous labor in the auditorium, might have been smoldering for some time.
Due to the damage and residual smoke, Principal Brenda Erhardt and Superintendent Justin Bartholomew decided to stop school for the beginning of the week as a precaution.
Fortunately, no significant injuries were reported, and the fire was restricted to the auditorium area.
Officials are thankful that the robotics team’s prompt action helped limit the damage, even though the auditorium and cafeteria’s damage is still being evaluated.
Officials said the robotics team initially detected smoke in the area while they were working near the fire.
The students quickly alerted staff members and began addressing the situation before the fire could spread, displaying quick thinking and collaboration.
Students and several faculty had already used fire extinguishers to put out the flames before the fire brigade got on the scene.
Both local fire officials and the school administration are praising their cool-headed and well-coordinated approach for averting what could have been a far more serious catastrophe.
“We are incredibly grateful to our robotics team and their mentors for their quick thinking and bravery,” Erhardt stated. “Their dedication to safety and preparedness truly paid off in a critical moment.”
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Classes have been canceled because of fire damage
The fire did not cause any injuries. On Saturday night, cleanup crews and remediation professionals began their job. They returned to the school on Sunday to eliminate the smell and residue of smoke.
Before courses can start again, inspections will need to be conducted.
“We deeply appreciate the professionalism and dedication of our local first responders and their unwavering commitment to keeping our community safe,” Bartholomew stated.
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