Fire-damaged Virginia Beach elementary reopens

By Elisabeth Hulette
Lauren Roth
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 28, 2010

VIRGINIA BEACH

All heating and air conditioning units are being inspected this week at the school where a wall heater caught fire just after noon Sunday.

The fire, which caused some damage to a kindergarten classroom at Thoroughgood Elementary School, did not affect the opening of school Monday.

The damage was contained to the heater and the wall of one classroom, said Battalion Chief James Ramsey with the Virginia Beach Fire Department.

Six classes were relocated at the school today while the classrooms undergo a comprehensive cleaning, school division spokeswoman Kathy O'Hara said.

Employees from School Plant are also out at the school inspecting the rest of the heating and cooling units in the school, and expect to finish by the end of the week.

On Sunday, a passer-by saw smoke coming out of a vent at the school, Ramsey said. No one was in the building at the time.

Firefighters received the call at 12:17 p.m. and had the fire under control by 12:55 p.m. The fire was accidental, and no one was injured, Ramsey said.

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.

Could have been worse

Submitted by General Booth on Sun, 09/26/2010 at 7:58 pm.

Think about what if the school had stored all of their desks and chairs and globes in that classroom. It ALL would have gone up in flames. POOF! Close call.