Small fire at Wenonah Elementary School in Lake Grove quickly put out, officials say
Firefighters responded to a fire at Wenonah Elementary School on Hudson Avenue in Lake Grove on Saturday afternoon. Credit: Evan Rolla
A small fire broke out in the attic of a Lake Grove elementary school Saturday, according to Suffolk County police.
The fire was reported at Wenonah Elementary School on Hudson Avenue shortly before 12:30 p.m., police said.
The Ronkonkoma Fire Department responded to the K-5 school with several other area departments to quickly extinguish the flames, school officials said. One neighbor described the fire as coming out of the roof.
On Sunday, the school's principal, Thomas Desmond, sent Wenonah families an email describing the blaze as "a small roof fire under a solar panel."
He said school staff and a restoration company were working "to repair the minor area of roof and deep clean other areas impacted in the cafeteria."
The school will open as usual Monday morning, but students who get breakfast at the school will eat in the gym because the cafeteria will be closed, Desmond said.
Monday is a scheduled half day for Wenonah students so no lunches will be served.
It’s unclear what may have sparked the fire.
A spokesperson for Suffolk police said the department’s arson squad was not investigating the incident.
Ronkonkoma Fire Department officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.
There were no events or activities scheduled at the school on Saturday, a district spokesperson said.
With Joseph Ostapiuk
