BREAKING: Students at Lunenburg Middle High School were evacuated moments ago when a fire erupted from solar panels on the roof, marking a chaotic start to the school year on September 5, 2023. The incident unfolded just after 11 a.m., sending students scrambling outside as black smoke billowed from the building.
Senior Paige Daley expressed disbelief, stating, “It’s so ironic. This is the first day of senior year, and the school is on fire.” Another student, senior Tatum Furman, described the scene: “We were wrapping up lunch when the alarm sounded. We came outside to see the smoke and hear fire trucks approaching.”
Fire officials confirmed that a maintenance staff member spotted the smoke and immediately called 911. Fortunately, the fire broke out over the gymnasium, and no students were inside that area. Firefighters from Lunenburg arrived on scene and had the situation under control in approximately 15 minutes.
Patrick Sullivan, Lunenburg Fire Chief, reported, “We found a fire in the solar panels at the rear of the building. Five panels were damaged and burning.” Crews used fire extinguishers to tackle the flames and prevent further damage to the roof.
Despite some roof damage, very little smoke entered the school building. Sullivan highlighted the unique challenges of fighting a solar panel fire, emphasizing the need for non-conductive agents due to the potential electrical hazards. “If you use water, it conducts electricity, so we had to be very careful,” he explained.
Students were dismissed early, with some transported by bus while others waited for parents to pick them up. Superintendent Jodi Fortuna praised her staff’s response, stating, “I am so grateful that no one was injured. It was a little jittery, but everything went according to our emergency plans.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with officials considering a possible electrical problem as a factor. Classes are set to resume tomorrow, September 6, 2023.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
