Fire at Charlotte school forces summer camp cancellations

WSOCTV.com News Staff
·2 min read

Summer camps and activities hosted at Charlotte Preparatory School have been canceled until further notice due to damage caused by an overnight fire.

“I just got to figure out what to do with my kids,” said Melissa Steadman, a parent whose children attend summer camp at the school.

The Charlotte Fire Department responded to the three-alarm fire at a Charlotte Preparatory School in southeast Charlotte on Monday night. Over 60 firefighters responded to the scene and it was controlled in 90 minutes.

Officials said the fire started at the Charlotte Preparatory School along Boyce Road around 9 p.m., causing an estimated $2.5 million in damage.

Officials said the fire started at the Charlotte Preparatory School along Boyce Road around 9 p.m., causing an estimated $2.5 million of damage.
Officials said the fire started at the Charlotte Preparatory School along Boyce Road around 9 p.m., causing an estimated $2.5 million of damage.
No injuries have been reported
No injuries have been reported
Charlotte Preparatory School posted a message on their website announcing all campus activities are canceled for the remainder of the week.
Charlotte Preparatory School posted a message on their website announcing all campus activities are canceled for the remainder of the week.
Over 60 firefighters responded to the scene and it was controlled in 90 minutes.
Over 60 firefighters responded to the scene and it was controlled in 90 minutes.
A neighbor told Channel 9 that they heard a loud explosion and saw flames higher than nearby homes. T
A neighbor told Channel 9 that they heard a loud explosion and saw flames higher than nearby homes. T
Over 60 firefighters responded to the scene and it was controlled in 90 minutes.
Over 60 firefighters responded to the scene and it was controlled in 90 minutes.
The Charlotte Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at a school in southeast Charlotte on Monday night.
The Charlotte Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire at a school in southeast Charlotte on Monday night.
The fire started late Monday night.
The fire started late Monday night.

The head custodian Victor Allen told Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura that no one was inside when the fire started.

“I’m glad it didn’t happen during the day when the kids were here,” Allen said.

Allen said around 10 p.m. on Monday, another custodian heard an explosion, and then fire ripped through the school’s lower building.

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Tim Eichenbrenner lives near the school and told Channel 9 that he heard a loud explosion and saw flames higher than nearby homes. He called 911 and saw fire trucks arrive moments later.

“It’s right next to the trees of the park and heaven only knows what would’ve happened then,” Eichenbrenner said.

The new school year is just weeks away, but Allen is confident students the school will build back quickly.

The school sent out a message to families on Tuesday afternoon stating there is no damage to other buildings. The message also stated they have a plan for the beginning of the school year while they rebuild.

“It is our intention to have temporary lower school classrooms and offices by the start of the school year, and we will work diligently to achieve this goal,” the statement read.

No injuries have been reported. CMPD arson detectives and ATF agents were the scene investigating. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

This is a developing story, check back at wsoctv.com for updates.

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