Property Formerly Known as New Orleans Charter Middle School Set Ablaze

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Saturday, June 18, 2011, at 11:34 am the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) responded to a 911 call reporting a fire at 3801 Monroe St; a property owned by First Line Schools, which housed New Orleans Charter Middle School prior to hurricane Katrina and had no working utilities. The first of twenty-nine NOFD companies arrived on the scene at 11:36 am to find a detached building in the rear of the school fully engulfed in flames. A second alarm was struck immediately, with third and fourth alarms being struck later for extra manpower to assist in the ninety-plus degree heat. Adrian Morgan, COO for First Line Schools, stated that the building that burned previously housed the schools administrative offices before closing in 2005. The single story building is less than ten feet away from the rear of the City of Love Full Gospel Church, which is currently being renovated. Ninety firefighters worked quickly to set up water curtains to keep the fire from extending to church or the rest of the school. Superintendent Parent stated that "preventing extension was a priority. Our guys did a great job of keeping the fire from extending to the church, especially considering its size and proximity".

The fire was placed under control at 12:34 pm. First arriving NOFD companies stated they witnessed kids running away from the school upon arrival. If anyone has any information about the kids seen leaving the area or the fire itself, they can contact the NOFD at 504-658-4750. Fire crews will remain on the scene to do a thorough search of the property to assure no one was in the building. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The American Red Cross was on the scene to assist firefighters with fluids for rehabilitation through its "canteen service".



Author:New Orleans Fire Department Press Release