Lightning strike suspected in Brownsburg elementary school fire
Brownsburg, Indiana – A fire, believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, damaged the roof of Cardinal Elementary School in Brownsburg on Sunday, according to district officials.
Brownsburg Fire Territory crews were dispatched to the school, situated at 3590 Hornaday Road, shortly after 7 a.m.
The firefighters swiftly brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading beyond the roof. While eight classrooms were affected by water damage, none sustained damage from the fire itself.
Brownsburg Community School Corporation staff will evaluate the extent of the damage and clean up the affected areas on Sunday, as stated in a letter to parents.
The letter assured parents that school is expected to resume as scheduled on Monday for all Cardinal students, with alternative classroom spaces identified for first grade and high-ability students.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and no one was in the building at the time of the fire, save for some newly-hatched baby chicks in a first-grade classroom.
Brownsburg Fire Territory posted on Facebook that the chicks were safely relocated to an unaffected part of the building and are doing well.
The fire was reported by a teacher who visited the school to check on the chicks, noticed the smoke, and promptly called 911.
