Heavy fire ripped through multiple floors of the Takoma Education Campus on Wednesday.
Authorities arrived at the school located on Piney Branch and Highland around 10:30 a.m. to find smoke pouring out the windows. It took firefighters 40 minutes control the three-alarm blaze.
Ten staff members were evacuated from the building. Classes weren't running due to the holiday break, so no students were present. No staff member injuries were reported. However, some D.C. Fire/EMS workers may have received minor injuries, according to a press release from Brandon Todd in the office of Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser.
"Having spoken with Mayor Fenty, Mayor-Elect Gray's office, Allen Lew and Interim Chancellor Kaya Henderson, our top priority is ensuring that the children have a place to return to after winter break," said the release.
The Takoma Education Campus is one of the District's Catalyst Arts Integration Program. The school has 260 students enrolled, from preschool to eighth grade.
Due to the extensive fire damage, D.C. Public Schools has determined that classes will not be able to resume in January. Meetings with students' parents will be announced next week.
