An estimated 150 to 160 people, many of them youngsters, safely evacuated Westminster Community Charter School this afternoon after a fire broke out in a first floor art room, according to Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield Jr.
“They were able to safely evacuate a Boys and Girls Club program and a second program that Canisius College was sponsoring for children 8 to 13 years old,” Whitfield said.
The two-alarm blaze was declared “knocked down” around 3:30 p.m. Damage was estimated at $200,000 to the building and $75,000 to the contents. A cause for the fire in the Kensington-Bailey area remained under investigation, the commissioner said. A live electrical wire on the first floor gave firefighters trouble, and National Grid was called to the scene to deal with it.
Because of actions taken by firefighters to contain the damage, the school on the first block of Westminster Avenue is expected to open in time for fall classes, Whitfield said.
“The firefighters are in there right now venting the building and squeegeeing the water out of the building,” he said late this afternoon. “I believe the rest of the building will be able to be used for the new school year, but that art classroom may not.”
email: lmichel@buffnews.com
“They were able to safely evacuate a Boys and Girls Club program and a second program that Canisius College was sponsoring for children 8 to 13 years old,” Whitfield said.
The two-alarm blaze was declared “knocked down” around 3:30 p.m. Damage was estimated at $200,000 to the building and $75,000 to the contents. A cause for the fire in the Kensington-Bailey area remained under investigation, the commissioner said. A live electrical wire on the first floor gave firefighters trouble, and National Grid was called to the scene to deal with it.
Because of actions taken by firefighters to contain the damage, the school on the first block of Westminster Avenue is expected to open in time for fall classes, Whitfield said.
“The firefighters are in there right now venting the building and squeegeeing the water out of the building,” he said late this afternoon. “I believe the rest of the building will be able to be used for the new school year, but that art classroom may not.”
email: lmichel@buffnews.com