Officials are assessing the damage of a Lacombe high school after fire ripped through its roof on Monday.

In the early afternoon of Sept. 27, a fire occurred at École

Secondaire Lacombe Composite High School resulting in thick black smoke billowing from the roof.

The school immediately began evacuation procedures. Emergency crews were contacted and quickly arrived on scene.

“They did a beautiful job of getting everyone out of the school safely,” said Larry Jacobs, superintendent for the Wolf Creek Public School Division. “No one was injured in the fire.”

Students were relocated to a muster area on the football fields east of the school and measures were taken to ensure that all students and staff were accounted for, including extensive searches of the building.

Students remained under staff supervision on the football field until either parents were contacted or the regular end-of-the-day bus schedule commenced.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the fire started on the roof of the school where roofing work was being done. The fire was quickly extinguished however the internal sprinkler system was deployed.

“The fire was contained in the north east section of the roof,” said Jacobs.

He added final repairs were being done to the roof at the time of the fire after the school underwent a $20 million modernization – something that has taken three years to complete.

The school will remain closed and classes cancelled until a damage assessment can be complete.

“In the next few days we’ll continue to investigate the cause of the fire,” said Jacobs. “We will also meet with administration to plan the days ahead.”

He added it is not known when the students will return to the school for classes.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com