The Price City Fire Department found children still evacuating Mont Harmon Junior High School this morning after receiving a distress call about a fire. The call came in around 9 a.m and crews were quickly on scene.
“We had a fire start in the custodial closet,” Fire Chief Paul Bedont said. “The fire was contained in the custodial closet room but unfortunately smoke circulated throughout the building.”
Smoke alarms alerted the students before the evacuation started.
“One good thing was the smoke alarm worked really well,” Bedont continued. “The kids evacuated and got out of the building quickly and no children were injured…and that’s the best thing.”
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and Bedont said they are waiting for the Utah State Fire Marshals to arrive because they have jurisdiction over schools.
“They’re sending an investigator in and so the fire marshal’s office and myself will do a joint investigation as soon as he arrives,” he said.
Cleanup of the fire is already underway with a crew on its way to the school, Bedont said.
“They’re bringing ozone machines in,” he said. “Hopefully we can get the smoke smell and the building cleaned up and we’ll be able to open up the school tomorrow.”
Students were sent home for the day and Bedont said that “best-case scenario” school would be back in session in the morning.
He then advised the public to have a plan at home in case of a fire.
“Do you have fire drills at home? Bedont said. “Your children go to school and they know exactly what to do if there’s a fire. But, do your children know what to do if there is a fire in your own home? Check your smoke alarms and make sure you practice with your children what to do if there is a fire.”
Check back with ETV10news.com as information becomes available.
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