News Summary
St. Benedict School in Decorah, Iowa, has canceled classes due to a fire incident that occurred early Friday morning. Fortunately, there were no injuries as the building was empty. The Decorah Fire Department responded promptly, discovering heavy smoke and an electrical service panel in the utility room that exhibited severe heat damage. Following safety protocols, power was disconnected, and the fire was extinguished. While the cause remains under investigation, the school’s administration confirmed that classes are temporarily suspended but expected to resume shortly.
Decorah, Iowa – Fire Incident Leads to Class Cancellations at St. Benedict School
St. Benedict School in Decorah, Iowa, has canceled classes following a fire incident that occurred early on Friday morning. The school administration confirmed that no students or staff were in the building at the time, and no injuries have been reported.
The Decorah Fire Department received an alarm call at approximately 6:25 a.m. and promptly responded to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered visible smoke emanating from the premises. An intensive examination revealed heavy smoke and heat originating from the utility room located on the lower level of the school. Firefighters identified a large electrical service panel that displayed extensive heat damage.
During the course of their investigation, firefighters detected elevated levels of smoke and carbon monoxide throughout the building, prompting Alliant Energy to arrive and disconnect power to the school for safety precautions. Firefighters continued their efforts by extinguishing the fire and utilizing ventilation techniques to clear out the smoke while reducing harmful carbon monoxide levels.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials have stated that it is not considered suspicious. The Principal of St. Benedict School, Justin Johnson, has confirmed that the damage to the facility is limited due to the swift response from the fire department.
As a precautionary measure, St. Benedict School has temporarily canceled classes for the day. However, it is anticipated that educational activities will resume as normal on Tuesday, depending on the outcome of the damage assessment. School officials will provide updates on the situation through their Facebook page to keep families informed.
This incident marks an unexpected disruption for the community, but the prompt action taken by the Decorah Fire Department has helped prevent further damage and ensured the safety of all involved. The school is now focused on recovery and restoring normal operations as quickly as possible.
St. Benedict School is committed to providing a safe environment for its students and staff and appreciates the community’s understanding during this time. The ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire will provide further insights, and updates will follow as new 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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