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Small fire closes school in Park Ridge for a day

A Park Ridge school was closed Monday as a result of an electrical fire in the school gym, officials said.

But classes at Franklin Elementary School will be in session Tuesday, Park Ridge District 64 said. The small fire started Sunday in an electrical service room at the back of the school gym.

City officials say firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the school at 2:14 p.m. Sunday and were able to put out the fire before it spread into the gym. There were no students or members of the public in the school, and two staff members were able to evacuate the building safely, officials said.

Due to the nature of the burned material, there was a considerable amount of smoke that needed to be ventilated out of the building, according to the fire department.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the fire started accidentally and caused an estimated $75,000 damage to the school and its contents, fire officials said.

Because the fire occurred in a public building, the Illinois State Fire Marshal was scheduled to inspect the area to confirm that the root cause of the fire has been correctly diagnosed. Repairs began Monday, District 64 officials said.

Mutual aid assistance was provided at the scene by the Des Plaines, Niles, and Morton Grove fire departments. Backup coverage was provided at Park Ridge fire stations by the Rosemont, North Maine, Elk Grove Village and Wheeling fire departments.

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