Emergency responders rushed to the scene of a small fire at Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School this morning, but the fire was out upon arrival, and no students had to be evacuated.
Columbus Municipal School District Deputy Superintendent Craig Shannon said the fire occurred around 10:30 a.m. in a food preparation area of the school’s cafeteria kitchen. A freezer motor’s fan was believed to be the cause of the fire.
Because the fire was extinguished so quickly by cafeteria personnel, and because the cafeteria is in a separate wing from the classrooms, no students had to be evacuated, Shannon said. Lunch waves were expected to begin as scheduled at 11 a.m.
Shannon attributed the staff’s quick thinking and the district’s safety plan with resolving the incident within about 10 minutes. Columbus Fire Department and Columbus Police Department responded to the scene, along with Shannon and the CMSD Police Chief Jimmy Bonner.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
