Crime & Safety
Update: Short in Electrical System Caused Smoke At Elementary School
BREAKING: Firefighters determined there was no fire and shut down an exhaust fan to solve the issue, officials said.
RIVERHEAD, NY — Update: 9:11 a.m.: Smoke at the Roanoke Avenue Elementary School was caused by a short in the electrical system, according to Riverhead School Superintendent Nancy Carney.
"There was no fire," she said. "There was apparently a short in the electrical system that drives an exhaust fan in the hood above the stove of the Roanoke kitchen. The short caused smoke which triggered the fire alarm. The fire department responded and determined that the situation was under control after the exhaust fan was shut down. This happened before students arrived this morning. All is fine."
Original story: Firefighters were on the scene of a kitchen fire at the Roanoke Avenue Elementary School early Wednesday morning, according to the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department.
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According to witnesses at the scene, the fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. in the kitchen, when only staff was present in the building.
No further information was immediately available.
Find out what's happening in Riverheadfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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