Fire In Dirksen Middle School On Midland, 3 Classrooms Sustain Damage From Fire, Water And Smoke

JOLIET, IL — On the same day that Joliet Public School District 86 had an E-Learning Day because of the sub-zero temperatures, a major fire broke out Friday morning at the Dirksen Middle School at 203 South Midland Avenue.

District 86 Superintendent Theresa Rouse revealed that Friday's fire will cause Dirksen Middle School students to be on another E-Learning Day come Monday. Not only did Friday's fire damage one of the classrooms, but smoke and water damage impacted two more classrooms.

According to JFD battalion chief Paul Yanak, at 9:32 am. the Joliet Fire Department responded to Dirksen Middle School for a structure fire. Company 5 responded and once inside, they reported heavy smoke and a fire in one of the classrooms. The fire alarm system was activated.

Yanak later told Joliet Patch that nobody was inside the school building at the time of the fire. The automated alarm is what triggered the Joliet Fire Department's response.

Crews were able to quickly knock down the main body of fire. Extra crews were sent to the scene because of multiple frozen hydrants in the area. The roof was opened over the fire to increase visibility and to check for pockets of fire in the roofing material.

Roof crews noted that the fire had extended into the foam layers of the roofing system. After the main body of fire was extinguished, the crews remained on the scene removing smoke from inside the school.

Yanak said the initial crews remained on the scene for over two hours, extinguishing hot spots and checking for extension. One firefighter was evaluated for frostbite, he noted.

Fire crews from stations 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 responded to Dirksen. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Yanak told Joliet Patch the fire was mostly confined to one particular classroom toward the end of a hallway section.

Joliet Patch has contacted District 86 spokesman Sandy Zalewski inquiring what Friday's fire damage at Dirksen means for students and staff come next week. Zalewski provided Joliet Patch with the following statement from Superintendent Theresa Rouse: