A fire at Sacred Heart Catholic School late Thursday afternoon prompted the closure of classes for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 on Friday, February 28.
In a statement to parents, guardians, and caregivers, the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario confirmed that fire services and board staff remain on-site assessing the extent of the damage and necessary cleanup efforts.
As a precautionary measure, Sacred Heart students in Grades K-6 and St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School (CSS) Intermediate students in Grades 7-8 will remain home while the assessment and restoration continue. However, classes for Grades 9-12 at St. Joseph’s will proceed as scheduled.
The fire also temporarily impacted the polling station located at Sacred Heart Catholic School, forcing it to close for about an hour before reopening, according to an Elections Ontario representative on the phone. Voting continued uninterrupted afterward until the scheduled closing time of 9 p.m.
Friday, the Cornwall Fire Services said that while the fire was contained to a washroom, smoke spread throughout the building.
“We are pleased to report that thanks to the swift actions of school staff and the well-rehearsed safety protocols in place, all staff and students evacuated safely. School personnel confirmed that every student was safely evacuated and accounted for. In addition, the Boys and Girls Club and an after-school program that were in session at the time were also evacuated, with all participants accounted for,” the department said.
Deputy Chief Leighton Woods remarked, “I am incredibly proud of the students’ quick thinking and calm composure during this incident. Equally, the staff’s collective response should be praised, which ensured the safety and wellbeing of all students. Their actions truly underscore the importance of preparedness.”
Cornwall Transit buses were sent to provide temporary shelter for both students and staff while fire crews assessed the damage. Cornwall Fire Services collaborated closely with CDSBEO school and board staff throughout the afternoon and evening to assess the damage and ensure the ongoing safety of the school community. Currently, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
