Lulu Ross Elementary School fire deemed accidental
MILFORD, Del.– After two weeks of no answers, the Milford community is finally finding out what caused the tragic fire at Lulu Ross Elementary School.
“During the morning hours on November 12th the Delaware State Fire Marshal hosted a press conference where they revealed from their investigation that the fire was classified as accidental in nature,” Assistant State Fire Marshal and Chief of Investigations B. Scott Bullock said. “The fire originated in a combustible display case with sliding glass front doors located in the hallway specifically caused by a failure in the fluorescent light fixture that was secured to the top of the display case.”
The display case was inset into the wall, meaning it did not protrude into the hallway. The top of the case is open to the area above the ceiling, which contained all of the mechanical systems for the school. The fire progressed in the ceiling area where there was no fire or smoke detection devices located. As a result of the lack of detection devices the fire ended up burning for seventeen minutes before the alarm system activated and alerted the fire department.
In addition to the Delaware State Fire Marshal, members of the Milford School District shared updates at the press conference. Lulu Ross principal Kim Webb talked about how students have adjusted to their new life at Milford Middle School.
“Someone asked me at the conclusion of last week how our first two days back, were did we survive?,” Webb said. “If I am being honest we didn’t survive, we thrived our way through it. The resilency of my staff, school felt normal and students immediately felt safety and a sense of belonging in there spaces.”
Webb also expressed how much love and support she and her staff have felt from the community since the last month’s fire.
“Based upon the community’s support and how they shown up and shown out for us in ways that surpassed my wildest dreams,” Webb said. “This is how and why we have been able to move this work forward the way that we have because of everyone’s love and support.”
Now that the cause of the fire has been revealed the community is working to heal.
“Our hearts are still broken, but they are full of love, our story is still being written and there is so much hope ahead. This comeback belongs to all of us.” Webb said.
