Fire Closes Wellesley Elementary School For Rest Of The Week

WELLESLEY, MA — An elementary school in Wellesley is closed until Monday after a fire Wednesday morning caused significant damage to two classrooms. The fire department said just before 8 a.m. that the fire broke out at the Hunnewell School on Cameron Street. No one was injured. Needham, Newton and Natick fire departments provided aid.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but fire officials believe it was likely caused by an electrical malfunction. Superintendent David Lussier said significant clean-up efforts and inspections need to be completed before students can safely return to school.

"Before we can safely re-open the building, several important things need to happen," Lussier said in a statement. "We are conducting tests of surfaces and air quality throughout the entire school to ensure that no potentially hazardous materials became airborne outside of the affected classrooms. We are also assessing all electrical, fire detection, and other building systems to ensure that nothing was compromised and that all of our systems are fully operational."

Lussier will inform the community if for any reason the school's re-opening moves as a result of the testing and clean-up.