PAWLEYS ISLAND (SC) – School officials say a HVAC unit failure may have caused a fire at Waccamaw High School late Thursday night.
Waccamaw High School’s Principal confirmed the fire broke out around 11 p.m. Thursday. According to Midway Fire Rescue, the fire was contained to a rear mobile classroom around 12:20 a.m. Friday morning.
In principal Adam George’s letter to parents, he also explained that the portable classroom that caught fire was being used for two foreign language classes. Those students were moved to the school’s auditorium Friday morning. School officials are expected to have a plan for a permanent classroom for those students by Monday morning.
The portable classroom that caught fire could be removed from campus as soon as this weekend, or whenever the fire department’s investigation is complete.
“The preliminary investigation points toward a failure in the HVAC unit as the cause of the fire. Student safety is still our number one priority, and we are thankful that no one was injured during this event. All school and scheduled activities will continue on a normal schedule. I would like to thank Midway Fire and Rescue and the Georgetown Fire Department for their quick response,” George said in the letter.
Murrells Inlet Garden City Fire, Horry County Fire Rescue, Georgetown City Fire Department and Georgetown County Fire/EMS were all credited for assisting at the scene and covering Midway’s district while they fought the fire.
