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Fire Sparked At Jessup High School

A Guilford Park High School student attempted to set a small object on fire during the lunch break, officials say.

JESSUP, MD — A Howard County high school was placed on hold this week after a student supposedly tried to start a small object on fire.

The incident happened during a lunch period at Guilford Park High School. A hold is an approach schools use when students and staff need to stay in their current locations and out of school hallways.

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"A student attempted to ignite a small object in the courtyard outside the cafeteria during a lunch period. The device was quickly extinguished, and Howard County Police and Fire and Rescue personnel responded and investigated the incident and the device," Principal Josh Wasilewski told parents in an email obtained by WBAL.

Howard County emergency officials determined the device that was ignited wasn't an explosive and wasn't dangerous to students beyond the fire risk.

Wasilewski told parents in the email that the situation was resolved quickly.

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