Carihi Fire Update From SD72

School District 72 has provided an update after fire at Carihi Secondary last week.

The District says its priority remains supporting students' return to academic instruction and ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities.

The fire was contained to the A-wing, which includes the gym, mezzanine, multi-purpose room, teaching kitchen, stage, and lower classrooms. B-wing sustained smoke and water damage.

The damaged sections (A-wing and B-wing) have been securely sealed off to prevent access. The front of the gym and B-wing are fenced off for added safety.

Throughout the weekend SD72 operations and support staff worked to restore power, heat, and water to unaffected areas of the school. Cleaning, airing out, and air filter replacements are also in progress in undamaged areas.

Air scrubbers are running continuously to ensure acceptable air quality before staff and students return, and as of yesterday, they were waiting for air quality testing to be conducted by a third-party specialist.

It is hoped that building occupancy approval will come soon, for staff to be able to re-enter the unaffected portions of the school by the end of this week.

Officials are also actively exploring temporary classroom spaces and community facilities to accommodate extracurricular programs, athletics, choir, band, and theatre, etc.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.