COLUMBUS, Ind – A short in an electrical service panel closed a Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) building early Wednesday afternoon.
The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) was dispatched to 1200 Central Ave. at around 12:20 p.m. and arrived to find no visible smoke or fire from the exterior of the structure. An evacuation of the building was underway.
Firefighters spoke to school corporation employees who reported that they had heard a “large boom” followed by the sound of the building’s fire alarm. One employee told firefighters that the building shook following the boom, according to CFD’s Capt. Mike Wilson.
As crews moved to the basement to assess the building utilities, smoke was visible and they said it smelled like an electrical fire. They found heavy smoke in the utility room but no sign of fire.
Further investigation revealed that an electrical system malfunction damaged a circuit box, causing the power failure in the building. The boom was a result of the short within the service panel.
BCSC officials reported no injuries occurred during the incident. The building was closed out of concern for air quality, the strong smell of smoke, and the need for electrical repairs. Authorities say the structure of the building did not sustain any damage. No repair timeline estimation was provided.
