A small fire broke out in a classroom at Columbia Career Center on Tuesday. No significant damage was reported as a result of the accident.
COLUMBIA -- Update: Oct. 11 at 3:50 p.m.:
A tractor engine caught fire inside a classroom at Columbia Career Center Tuesday afternoon, according to the Columbia Fire Department.
Students in an agriculture classroom at the vocational school were repairing the tractor engine when it caught fire, Columbia Public Schools' Spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said.
Baumstark said other students in the same classroom were working on a welding project but that it's not clear if that's what sparked the fire.
The State Fire Marshal's office has been called in to determine the cause of the fire.
Five teachers in the building used fire extinguishers to put out the fire, which resulted in smoke and fire extinguisher dust in the hallways. Firefighters stayed on scene for about an hour to ventilate the building.
The fire broke out around 2:30 p.m., just as nearby Rock Bridge High School was dismissing for the day, which created some traffic congestion as firefighters arrived.
Officials at the Career Center said classes will go on this evening as scheduled as well as Wednesday.
Original Story:
All students have been reported safe after a small fire at the Columbia Area Career Center.
The Fire Department reports that the fire started in a welding classroom, but was extinguished by the time fire fighters arrived.
Students were evacuated, but no injuries or significant damage was reported.
The 911 call was placed just after 2:30 Tuesday afternoon to the vocational school on South Providence Road.
Crews are still on the scene as of 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, but call their efforts mostly precautionary.
The Columbia Career Center is run by the Columbia Public School District.
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