Between 80 and 100 firefighters from 17 communities assisted in extinguishing the blaze.
ROWE - A lightning strike Saturday afternoon caused a fire that destroyed the Rowe Elementary School. The Greenfield ladder truck works on some hot spots as the fire is brought under control and the sun starts to set behind the clouds and smoke. ROWE – With the remains of Rowe Elementary School still smoldering, town officials gathered together Sunday morning to discuss where the 69 students will attend school in September.
“Everything will be sorted out within the next few days. I will say everyone’s clear intention is to keep all the children together,” said Noel Abbott, chairman of the Rowe Board of Selectmen.
The exact location of where the children, who are in pre-school through sixth-grade, has not been figured out yet. Different options will be given to the School Committee soon so they can made a decision, said Bill Knittle, principal of Rowe elementary.
He said the children will likely attend one of the other elementary schools in the Mohawk District. Rowe Elementary is independent of the district but they share some services including those from the superintendent and business manager.
He said he has been talking to parents and saw many as they gathered at the fire Saturday night.
“There is an outpouring of sadness and support. It has been really inspiring,” Knittle said.
On Saturday, lightning struck the school at about 3:30 p.m., setting roof on fire. The blaze quickly spread damaging much of the school.
“When we arrived two-thirds of the roof was on fire and flames were shooting 10 to 15 feet in the air,” Rowe Deputy Fire Chief Dennis May said.
The brick and wood structure has a slopped roof that was built on top of the original flat roof. Firefighters first hoped it was just the sloped roof that was on fire, May said.
“We were hoping the flat roof would hold back the fire but it didn’t. In about a half-hour the front foyer and the principal’s office was a big orange glow,” May said.
The fire was so large a total of five alarms were called. Between 80 and 100 firefighters from 17 different departments, some as far away as Vermont, South Deerfield, Greenfield and Erving, assisted in extinguishing the flames, he said.
By about midnight most of the fire was out but it kept flaring up again. Three departments from Florida, Erving and Ashfield agreed to watch the building overnight and between midnight and 8 a.m. and they used 3,000 to 4,000 gallons putting out flames that started again, May said.
The roof, principal’s office and foyer are destroyed but classrooms mostly sustained water and smoke damage, he said.
By Sunday evening, Abbott said the blaze had completely extinguished and officials have already started talking to insurance agents. There will be security at the building at all times until it can be secured.
It is not known if the building can be repaired or if it must be torn down. Engineers for the insurance company are scheduled to inspect the building Monday or Tuesday, Abbott said.
“We are aware of all the technical and logistical issues but at the same time we are concerned about the current students and parents...and that includes the entire town and alumni,” he said.
The town will hold a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and School Committee at 6 p.m. at Rowe Town Hall to discuss the fire more. The requirements that the meeting is posted in advance have been waived because of the emergency, Abbott said.
In the near future a complete town meeting will be held to inform residents, he said.