N. Bellmore school fire was on roof

A small fire from a rooftop exhaust fan forced students at the Saw Mill Road school in North Bellmore to evacuate for a short time Tuesday morning, school and fire officials said.

Superintendent Arnold Goldstein of the North Bellmore School District said a small fire broke out at about 8:45 a.m. and the elementary school at 2801 Saw Mill Rd. was evacuated for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Students returned to their classrooms shortly after 9 a.m., he said.

"There was really nothing to it," he said of the fire. "There was smoke, but it was never out of control."

Goldstein also said many parents were at the school with their children for an awards ceremony.

The school's automated telephone messaging system also alerted families, he said.

The North Bellmore Fire Department responded and put out the fire, Goldstein said.