2 Brick Schools To Reopen Friday After Electrical Fire, Power Outage

BRICK, NJ — Classes are expected to resume normally on Friday at Emma Havens Young Elementary School and Drum Point Elementary School after an electrical fire on Thursday at Emma Havens Young school, the district's acting superintendent said.

Dennis Filippone, acting superintendent of the Brick Township School District, said the fire at Emma Havens Elementary School Thursday started in a conduit that transmits electricity from solar panels and traveled up the conduit.

“Principal David Kasyan, his staff and the students did an absolutely exemplary job evacuating roughly 755 students," Filippone said. The fire, reported at 9:10 a.m. according to Brick Township police, was quickly extinguished and no one was injured.

"It could have been a lot worse," Filippone said.

The Emma Havens students were evacuated to the Drum Point Athletic Complex next to the school, and dismissed at 11:15 a.m., with students being sent home by bus or parents picking up them up. Students whose parents were not available to meet buses were taken to the Brick Police Athletic League building, where they stayed until parents and caregivers could pick them up.

The fire knocked out power to more than 1,5oo homes and businesses in the area, including Drum Point, and those roughly 490 students and staff were transferred to Brick Township High School, where they were dismissed at regular dismissal, officials said.

“Our staff truly showed their commitment and dedication to our students and I wish to thank the administrators and staff that made sure all our students were safe and cared for," Filippone said. "We must also commend the township Police and EMS departments, our district transportation, facilities, and cafeteria departments for their rapid response today, all are to be commended for a job well done.”

The district's facilities team and the Brick Township fire inspector examined the buildings and told Filippone classes could resume Friday, a news released from the district noted.

Parents are reminded to log into their Honeywell System alerts, which can be found at www.brickschools.org to update their information and select how they wish to be alerted. Once logged in they will need to go to: “My family Alert Set-up” to select the various options.

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Photo by BillandRan Zenitram, posted to the Brick Patch Facebook page