The fire started in an art supply room in between two art classrooms atabout 6:45 p.m. Those classrooms sustained heavy damage and the firecaused damage to the school's electrical system.That iss the main reasonMillbrook was closed to students Wednesday. Extensive smoke and sootdamage were also contributing factors.
Teachers and maintenance workers reported to work Wednesday to get theschool ready for the return of students as soon as possible. Teacherspitched in to help with cleanup tasks.
Principal Dr. Del Burns said the smoke was very heavy at one pointduring the fire.
Investigators from Wake County, the City of Raleigh and theCity-CountyBureau of Identification were at the school throughout Tuesday night andinto Wednesday, searching for the cause of the blaze.
Burns said Millbrook's maintenance crew had help from others throughoutthe county. All were working toward getting things ready for upcomingexams.
Millbrook is expected to open Thursday for students. Officials don'twant any days lost this close to exam time. The two damaged art classroomswill have to be gutted and rebuilt, but officials say it won't be toodifficult to manage without the use of those rooms.
There is no word yet on a possible cause of the fire.
Photographer:Mark Copeland
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