Got a call at 5:12 p.m. that there was a fire at CJSHS...

The "green hallway" is a mess...

Firemen were trying to cut through the slate on the outside of the building to get into the Crisis Classroom (Room 104) to get to the fire. Other firemen were climbing onto the roof to cut through to the area.

Suspicion is the fire started with a sofa in the "weight room". Fire seemed contained when I left a 5:45 p.m., but smoke damage will be extensive.

THE PLAN:

The District will be OPEN tomorrow, but CJSHS will be closed. However, CJSHS faculty and staff aare to report to the CCEC (Old Junior High Building) at 8 a.m.

(The TV stations will say to report at the "regular time", but I have cleared it with Superintendent Rogers that 8 a.m. is fine. Also...the Central Office usually does not open until approximately 7:45 a.m., so do not be an early bird!)

Stay tuned...

From the WSIL TV Channel 3 Web site...

Cairo School Catches Fire

CAIRO -- A fire in the blue wing of the Cairo Jr. High/High School has caused classes to be cancelled Friday.

Around 5:45 p.m. school officials confirmed the fire was out, but part of the building had received smoke and water damage.

An investigation of the fire's cause continues, but officials believe a piece of furniture caught fire, inciting the blaze.

Superintendent William R. Rogers said Emerson and Bennett Elementary Schools will still be in session Friday.

Rogers also noted that all faculty and staff should report to the superintendent's office at their regular time Friday.

From the KFVS TV Channel 12 Web site...

Fire at High School Cancels Friday Classes

By: Mike Shain

CAIRO, Ill. - Students at Cairo Jr. High/High School won't have school Friday after a fire broke out late Thursday afternoon.

Damage was contained to a storage room, but there is smoke thorughout the building.

The alarm was answered by Cairo firefighters, assisted by neighboring departments through the southern tip of Illinois.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. The fire marshall will investigate Friday.

Only the principal and about two dozen students receiving after school tutoring were in the building when they smelled smoke. The fire department was called and everyone left the building.

The Cairo principal hopes classes will resume by Monday. The principal praises the firefighters who answered the alarm and got things under control.