(Updated 6:45 p.m.) Firefighters went to Wexler-Grant School at 9:15 a.m. Thursday to put out a fire in a bathroom in the northeast section of the building.
The public schools issued the following release about the incident, in which no one was reported hurt:
The fire alarm system worked as designed and the building was evacuated immediately by Principal David Diah and School Officials. Students and staff were housed temporarily at the planned area of refuge, Ingalls Rink, with the cooperation of Yale University. Students were shuttled back to the school by bus and housed in the gym and auditorium sections of the building which we clear of any impact from the fire, fed lunch and released on an early dismissal schedule at 12:10 p.m.
The New Haven Fire Marshal’s Office and New Haven Police are investigating the cause of the fire and with School officials and School Security cooperating in that effort.
Health Department Officials and School Facilities crews have begun inspections and cleaning of the building as well as confirming air quality and system operations in order to resume normal school activities tomorrow, December 14, 2018.
“I want to thank the New Haven Fire Department and our other public safety partners and our Facilities Team for the prompt and professional response to this incident. Principal Diah and his Team followed emergency protocols to ensure the safety of students and staff. I appreciate the maturity and cooperation of the students who were excellent during this incident.” —Dr. Carol D. Birks, Superintendent of Schools.
Cops Called To Barnard
Also Thursday, officials also called cops and security guards to Barnard Environmental Magnet School to look into chatter that a student might be planning an attack. But after investigating, they concluded that there was nothing to the rumor.
Acting on information about “a possible threat,” school district officials “immediately worked with the Security Division, New Haven Police and other officials to investigate the issues,” Will Clark, the district’s chief operating officer, said in an email. “Based on that proactive work, the Police and Security officials have determined that there is no threat to the school. They traced it back to the source and determined that there was not a threat.”
Classes took place as usual, just with extra cops and support staff in the building.
Clark added that school faculty, security guards and police “will continue to collaborate in order to maintain a safe environment at Barnard.”
