ELIZABETHTOWN, LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa --Classes have been cancelled on Monday for students in the Elizabethtown Area School District, because of a fire that caused $150,000 in damage.
A fire alarm at the school went off around 9:45 p.m. Friday in the dish washing room of the secondary school, according to district officials.
Fire crews responded and quickly extinguished the flames, but the school's HVAC system drew smoke and soot to several classrooms and common areas. This caused a noticeable smokey odor in certain parts of the building and left soot on desks, walls and other surfaces.
The flames were contained to the kitchen area according to Pennsylvania State Police and district officials.
The district hopes to resume operations on Tuesday, though some classrooms may still be closed, and bagged lunches may need to be served in the secondary school until the kitchen is back up and running.
The PSP Fire Marshal is investigating, but the cause of the fire is undetermined at this point.
The Elizabethtown Area School District released a statement that says in part, "We apologize for the inconvenience this event has caused and thank our parents and guardians for their understanding. We also would like to thank our buildings and grounds team; local first responders and the faculty, staff, and administration of the school district during this unplanned emergency."