Published: October 09, 2009 09:37 am      

UPDATED: Power loss closes Keene schools

Damage to a power line and a small fire at Keene High School prompted officials to close all Keene ISD campuses on Friday.

The fire, which occurred Thursday, affected an electrical panel in the high school but caused no other damage. No students or staff were hurt in the fire.

The fire began at about 2:15 p.m. after a backhoe hit a power line, which caused a surge.

The line served all the Keene schools and could not be repaired in time for Friday class, said KISD Superintendent Kevin Sellers.

“One positive thing out of this is that Friday was scheduled as an early release day, and school is closed Monday for the holiday,” Sellers said. “We’re hoping to get the repairs made and starting class again on Tuesday.”

Sellers said the district will treat Friday like a snow day and make it up later in the year.

Loss of power, the small fire in the high school’s electrical panel and the fact that the alarms went off in all the schools led to Sellers’ decision to evacuate all the campuses, he said.

“I’m extremely pleased by the leadership and organizational ability of our principals and teachers in getting all the students out safely,” Sellers said. “We actually had some Keene firefighters on campus doing a fire-safety demonstration at the time, so we were able to clear everyone out pretty quick.”

Workers remained on scene late into Thursday night checking lines and electrical equipment for any other possible hazards and checked the buildings for carbon monoxide Friday morning, Sellers said.

“We want to make sure everything is safe before we allow students and teachers to get their possessions,” Sellers said.

The backhoe was on scene as part of a $15 million construction and renovation project to two of the schools, Sellers said.