Lakota middle school going remote this week due to fire Monday morning

Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati Enquirer
Updated ·2 min read
The fire at Hopewell Junior School was put out Monday morning by the West Chester Fire Department.
The fire at Hopewell Junior School was put out Monday morning by the West Chester Fire Department.

Hopewell Junior School students won't attend in-person classes this week after the school caught fire Monday morning. They won't have school at all on Tuesday.

The fire was accidental and likely due to an electrical issue, West Chester Township Public Information Officer Barbara Wilson told The Enquirer Monday afternoon. No one was in the school building at the time of the fire, as the school was closed for the Labor Day holiday.

Wilson said several departments − including units from West Chester, Liberty Township, Deerfield Township and Springdale − responded after the fire alarm went off just before 9 a.m. Monday. There was no 911 call.

"There was smoke coming out of the building" when the fire departments arrived, Wilson said.

The fire was in the back of the building and started in the coach's locker room. Wilson said firefighters had to breach the roof and it was under control by 9:30 a.m. The roof did not collapse due to the fire, but firefighters did tear part of the roof off in order to contain the fire.

Lakota Local Schools administrators are still assessing the damage with the fire department, according to Betsy Fuller, community relations director for the school district.

"We are very grateful that school was not in session when the fire broke out and appreciate the swift response from the West Chester Fire Department, as well as first responders from neighboring communities, to contain the fire," Fuller wrote in an email to The Enquirer.

Tuesday will be a calamity day for students as staff work to prepare to go remote the rest of the week. Fuller said Wednesday through Friday will be remote learning days for Hopewell Junior School students.

"A decision for what school looks like next week has not been made yet," Fuller wrote.

More information will become available later in the week, and shared with families through the district.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota's Hopewell Junior School caught fire Monday morning