Firefighters from 17 companies battle blaze at elementary school in Laurel Hollow

Firefighters from 17 Nassau and Suffolk fire departments battled a predawn blaze Tuesday that heavily damaged an elementary school in Laurel Hollow, fire officials said.

First responders were alerted to the blaze at 4:40 a.m.by an automatic fire alarm at the the West Side School, a part of the Cold Spring Harbor School District, said Chief Fire Marshal Michael F. Uttaro, of the Nassau County Fire Marshal's office.

Firefighters from Oyster Bay's Atlantic Steamer Fire Company found smoke and fire spreading in the school on Laurel Hollow Road. Another 16 companies from surrounding communities responded to the blaze, Uttaro said.

The fire was contained to the library and rooms in that vicinity, and was brought under control within two hours, Uttaro said.

The school was unoccupied at time and there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters, Uttaro said.

Nassau fire marshal investigators and the Nassau arson/bomb detectives are investigating the cause of the blaze.

The Cold Spring Harbor School District notified parents and students that the school would be closed Tuesday and to stay away from the area.

Uttaro said it is unknown if the school will be able to reopen "in any way later this week."

No further details were immediately available.

Check back for updates on this developing story.