Yesterday morning, the West Nipissing Fire and Emergency Service received a fire alarm activation for White Woods Public School located at 177 Ethel Street, Sturgeon Falls.
Firefighters arrived at 11:05 and saw heavy smoke coming from a classroom located in the northeast section of the school.
Fire Chief Frank Loeffen told BayToday no injuries were reported. School staff followed their emergency procedure and evacuated all students and personnel to Northern Secondary School next door without incident, the chief explained.
Firefighters entered the building to put out the fire, but everything was contained when the classroom’s sprinkler system was activated.
The damage is estimated at around $500,000, the chief said, adding the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office has been contacted to investigate the incident. At this time, the cause has not been determined.