MILFORD, Del. - Multiple fire companies have responded to a 3rd alarm fire at an elementary school in Milford early Sunday, according to the Georgetown Fire Company.
(Sara Sockriter)
The Milford School District says first responders were notified around 4:15 a.m. Sunday morning that a fire alarm was going off at the school.
District officials say when firefighters got there, several areas on the north end of Kent Hallway were on fire. It took about three hours to get control of the fire.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office says crews tried to fight the fire inside at first, but conditions were deteriorating, forcing them to evacuate.
School officials say the fire spread into the lobby, front office areas, and the library, all which got significantly damaged.
The school district says no one was hurt because there were no students or employees inside the building at the time.
Milford School District announced there will be no school for Lulu Ross Elementary students from Oct. 26 through Oct. 30 as they work to figure out a long-term plan after the fire.
They say they will not do remote instruction for the week. Ross staff will get specific information about school operations. All other schools in the Milford School District will be open and operating on a regular schedule.
They say first responders have cleared the site as investigators continue to determine the cause of the fire.
The school district says they are working with state agencies to build a collection of resources for staff and families who may be dealing with trauma associated with the "devastating fire" and the loss that accompanies it. They ask for community members to not visit the school as investigators and response crews are still on-site.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office says they did not find evidence of criminal activity starting the fire.
They do not have a damage estimate available yet.
(Georgetown Fire Co.)
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
