Sprinkler Malfunction Causes Fire Alarm

Students happy to miss class

On Tuesday, May 6, a fire alarm sounded throughout the school. The heat from the kiln near the art room caused the sprinkler system to go off due to a malfunction in a sprinkler. The sprinkler system automatically set off the alarm and called the Hopkins Police and Fire Department. The sprinklers also caused severe damage in and around the art room. Students spent the majority of the day outside on the turf field until they were dismissed at 12:00.

9:20 - Parking Lot

At around 9:20, during students’ B-period class, the fire alarm sounded. The classes stopped, and students and teachers went outside to the south parking lot and got in line by advisory, as they had practiced during multiple fire drills the past year. The lower school did the same.

Neither students nor teachers knew much about what was happening. Some thought it was a drill.

After the alarm went off, a Hopkins fire engine arrived at the school. A police car soon followed.

9:45 - Turf Field

After spending around 15 minutes in the south parking lot, administrators decided that the middle school students should move from the parking lot to the turf field. They went through the building where the doors to the Upper Elementary and Middle School were shut.

After reaching the turf field, rumors had started to travel about the cause of the drill, although most weren’t worried. Many students viewed the time as extra recess, an excuse to miss classes they didn’t like.

“I love it,” one student said.

Many students were happy to skip class, with some missing a science test.

However, another student said that they “hate it. [It] sucks. Get us back into class.”

Some students said they were originally worried that their teacher, Steve Johnson, who is substituting for Ms. Raina Green, was still in the building. “We love Steve,” these students added.

“I feel like we should get more information,” one 8th-grade student said.

Catherine Smith, a seventh grader, was worried about the damage the sprinkler system caused on the art room. “[The] art room’s very expensive,” she said.

Ms. Jennifer Nunez said she’s “glad it’s not January.” Many students and teachers agreed that the event proved that Blake would be able to handle something bigger.

Mrs. Maelene Krig commented on how flexible both the students and teachers were, given that the fire alarm interrupted many tests and other lesson plans.

Damage Restoration

Soon after the incident, the school called Servicemaster Restore, a 24-hour emergency service company, to clear out the flooding that had begun in and near the art room. Servicemaster trucks and vans pulled up on all sides of the middle school. The Servicemaster team brought large fans and other equipment to clear out the water. The team was still working on the damage when students were dismissed; the sound of their fans was part of the reason for the early dismissal.

11:11

At 11:11, all parents received a text message announcing a noon dismissal and linking to the Blake website for more information (pictured above). The website said: “There was no fire, and the Hopkins fire department responded quickly. However, the sprinkler activation led to significant water discharge in MS classrooms. The multiple dryers and fans spread throughout the building have created loud noise and impediments to transversing the MS hallways on both levels.”

11:45 - Dismissal

Before students were dismissed, Ms. Ferguson talked to each grade about how to enter the building. “Everybody can go to their locker,” she said. She explained that that there were “adults stationed” to help students get to where they needed to go.