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Pickerington School to open on time despite fire
(by Kim Lunsford, staff writer - August 18, 2010)
Pickerington City Schools are still opening the doors for Toll Gate Elementary and Middle School students, despite a fire on Aug. 11.
The fire broke out after lightning hit the gymnasium of the middle school. The only individuals in the building at the time were custodial staff.
“The fire was in the foam insulation,” Communications Director Lee Cole said. “The firefighters would tear off a part of the roof and have fire, but all that was inside was smoke and water.”
Because the middle school was built with two gyms and the elementary school with one, there will be no disruptions to the start of the school year for the students. The auxiliary gym will be the only gym in use for the middle school students until all repairs are made. Elementary students will not be affected by the repairs.
“It won’t affect elementary school at all,” Cole said.
The only obvious signs of a fire were the light smoke within the building that hallway fans took care of and the water that was used to extinguish the fire from the roof.
Damage estimates are expected in the next week. No time line has been established at this time for when the repairs will be complete.
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