Fire, Power Outage Force Cancellation Of Classes At 1 Brick School: Police

BRICK, NJ — An electrical fire outside the Emma Havens Young Elementary School Thursday morning caused a power outage that forced district officials to cancel classes at that school and to move students from Drum Point Elementary School to Brick Township High School.

The power outage was affecting more than 1,500 homes and businesses in the area, according to Jersey Central Power & Light.

Initially it was believed that power would be restored to Drum Point Elementary School quickly so classes could resume. But at 11:20 a.m. district officials said Drum Point remained without power.

"The staff and students (of Drum Point Elementary) will be transported to Brick Township High School around 12:15 to complete their instructional day. Students will be dismissed at their regular time from Brick Township High School and board their regular bus to be transported home," district information officer Maria Marousis said.

Parents who normally pick up their Drum Point student at the end of the regular day may park in the West Parking Lot of Brick Township High School (the lot closest to the Parkway) and enter Brick Township High through the Main Entrance to sign out their student," she said.

Emma Havens students were dismissed at 11:15 a.m. and were being sent home by bus or picked up by parents, Marousis said. Parents who were picking up students were being directed to the Drum Point Athletic Complex to pick them up.

Emma Havens parents were given the following information by Honeywell alert: "If you are unavailable when your child gets off the bus or unavailable to pick them up, the children will be taken to the PAL building," Marousis said.

The Brick PAL building is across the street from the Emma Havens/Drum Point school complex.

Brick Township police said the fire was reported outside Emma Havens Young at 9:10 a.m. It was quickly extinguished, police said, and all students and staff were safe.

Emma Havens students and staff initially were moved to Drum Point Elementary School next door, police said.

This is a breaking news report and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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