The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. administration building, 1200 Central Ave., is closed following an electrical fire.
A short in an electrical service panel caused a loss of power at the building at 12:19 p.m. Wednesday, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find that an evacuation of the building was underway.
School corporation employees reported they had heard a “large boom” followed by the sound of the building’s fire alarm. One employee told firefighters that the building shook following the boom.
Firefighters entered the building and quickly identified an odor that indicated a possible electrical type fire. Upon reaching the building’s utility service room, firefighters found an high concentration of smoke, and inside the room, they encountered heavy smoke but no sign of fire, Wilson said.
Firefighters determined an electrical system malfunction damaged a large electrical circuit box which caused the power failure. Firefighters said the boom was a result of the short within the service panel.
No injuries occurred during the incident. The building was closed due to a strong odor of smoke and the need for electrical system repairs. With the exception of the smoke odor, the building did not sustain damage. Staff are working remotely in the aftermath.
BCSC Communications Coordinator Josh Burnett commended the quick response of the Columbus Fire Department and added that Duke Energy was also on the scene to assess the situation.
He said that the incident should not affect the first school board meeting of the year, which is scheduled to be held in the administration building’s Terrace Room at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.
