Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- A fire in a gymnasium light today led to a brief evacuation of Matunuck Elementary School.

No one was hurt. About 300 students were sent out of the building but have since returned to retrieve items and have lunch.

John Ritchotte, the South Kingstown school district administration director, said there was smoke and the building was evacuated shortly after 11 a.m.

He said that at about 12:15 p.m. students were allowed back in, one class at a time, to retrieve bookbags and lunch money and they were told to eat in back of the building at the recess field.

Fire officials said the fire was small and quickly extinguished. Officials are investigating.

Ritchotte said he did not think there was much damage, except maybe to the gym floor. He said it was his understanding the fire happened in what is known as a ballast of the light fixture.

Union Fire District Chief Bob Perry estimated about $2,000 in damage to the gym floor.

"Nobody was hurt. The kids are all in good spirits," Perry said.

-- projo.com staff writers Brandie M. Jefferson and Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Davis

 Tags  South Kingstown

Comments

TIM MAINE said:

HI MIKE I JUST WANTED TO ADD ABOUT THE FIRE AT MATUNUCK SCHOOL ON WED. MY SON ANTHONY MAINE AND A FRIEND WERE COMING OUT OF THE BATHROOM WHEN ANTHONY SAW FIRE DRIPING FROM THE CEILING HE SAID THAT WE HAVE TO TELL SOMEBODY SO THEY RAN TO AN ADULT TOLD HERE SHE PULLED THE ALARM BUT THE BEST PART OF THIS IS THAT HE IS 8 AND THEY ARE IN 3RD GRADE THE NEXT DAY (THUR) THE PRINCIPAL AWARDED THEM A HERO BUTTON

Link | September 26, 2008 10:27 AM
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