News Summary

St. Benedict School in Decorah has canceled classes following a fire incident early Friday morning. The Decorah Fire Department’s quick response prevented injuries or damages, as students and staff were not present. The fire’s cause is under investigation, and plans are in place for classes to resume on Tuesday, pending assessments. The school administration is committed to keeping the community informed during this time, emphasizing the importance of safety protocols.

Decorah School Cancels Classes Following Morning Fire Incident

Decorah, Iowa – St. Benedict School in Decorah has canceled classes for the day due to a fire incident that occurred early Friday morning. The fire department’s quick response prevented any injuries or damages to students and staff, who were not present at the time.

Fire Incident Response

At approximately 6:25 a.m., the Decorah Fire Department received an alarm call indicating smoke in the building. Firefighters swiftly arrived at the school to find smoke billowing from the structure. Upon investigation, they discovered that heavy smoke and intense heat were concentrated in the utility room located on the lower level.

Inside the utility room, firefighters found a large electrical service panel that had suffered extensive heat damage. Concerned for the safety of the building, the fire department assessed elevated levels of smoke and carbon monoxide throughout the facility.

Safety Measures Taken

Alliant Energy was immediately called to disconnect power to the school, ensuring that no further hazards would arise due to the incident. Firefighters constructed a plan to extinguish the fire efficiently while using ventilation systems to clear out the smoke and reduce the dangerous carbon monoxide levels that had developed.

Luckily, there were no students or staff inside the school, and no injuries were reported as a result of this fire incident.

Investigation and Expected Resumption of Classes

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by local authorities. However, officials have stated that they do not consider the incident to be suspicious in nature. The principal of St. Benedict School confirmed that the damage is limited and praised the prompt response from the fire department.

Plans are already in place for classes to resume as normal on Tuesday, pending a thorough assessment of the extent of the fire damage. The school administration is committed to providing timely updates through their official Facebook page to keep parents and community members informed.

Community Impact

The fire incident has raised concerns among parents and community members regarding school safety. St. Benedict School, known for its commitment to maintaining a secure and nurturing environment for its students, is likely to address these concerns following the resolution of the investigation and damage assessments. Maintaining communication with parents and guardians is expected to be a key priority during this time.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and safety protocols in schools. The Decorah Fire Department’s swift action demonstrates the effectiveness of having a well-trained team ready to deal with emergencies promptly.

As the investigation continues, the school and local authorities will work to ensure that the safety of students and staff remains a top priority. Updates will be provided to the community as information becomes available.

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Additional Resources

• KCRG: Eastern Iowa Catholic School Cancels Class Following Fire
• Wikipedia: Fire Safety
• CBS2 Iowa: Classes Canceled at St. Benedict School
• Google Search: St. Benedict School fire incident
• KWWL: Classes Canceled at Decorah Catholic School Due to Smoke
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Fire
• Decorah Leader: Classes Cancelled at St. Benedict
• Google News: Decorah school fire

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