CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The Chesapeake Fire Department responded to the scene of a commercial structure fire at Great Bridge Middle School on Saturday.
A news release stated that dispatch got the first fire alarm alert from inside the school at 7:45 a.m.
When firefighters arrived, they found smoke inside the school. While more units responded, they located a fire inside the shipping and receiving room of the school.
Firefighters forced entry through a steel door to get to the fire, which was coming from pallets of paper.
A second alarm was activated, and firefighters stretched hose lines inside the school to make sure the fire had not spread.
The fire was under control by 8:30 a.m., and no one was injured or inside the school when it happened.
Norfolk Fire & Rescue also responded to help ventilate the building after the flames were extinguished.
Chesapeake Fire Marshals investigated the fire, and they found that it was accidental and caused by a wall-mounted electric heater and switch box.
An announcement went out to families of students at the school on Saturday afternoon with the following statement:
"On Saturday morning the Chesapeake Fire Department responded to a fire at Great Middle School. The school was unoccupied and the fire department was able to contain the fire to a small area of the building. Unfortunately, due to the smoke damage, Great Bridge Middle School’s status has shifted to asynchronous virtual learning for Monday, May 2, 2022.
Teachers will provide students with information on how to access virtual assignments. The school building will be closed to students and teachers. All afternoon activities are also canceled for Monday. We will update families about the operating schedule for the rest of the week on Monday as more information becomes available."