East Ridge High band officials say show will go on despite fire
"We're hoping to have instruments in hand by Thursday of this week and rehearsing next week," said
Though the marching band won't be on hand for Friday's football game at
Students plan to use instruments loaned by area schools and residents to rehearse in the coming days and at this month's event, Hart said.
Meanwhile,
"They are in the process of determining what is salvageable and what instruments can be cleaned," district spokeswoman
The blaze broke out just before
City officials said the cause of the fire was accidental. No one was injured. Photos after the fire showed a row of damaged lockers and other melted items.
Officials said about 90% of the band equipment for the 110 band students -- including those in the marching, concert and jazz bands -- was damaged.
Hart said he and others have spent this week pulling many of the instruments out of the burned storage areas.
"We're critiquing and evaluating and seeing if they can be repaired," Hart said. "I'm sure we're going to have a mixture. Some may need to be replaced. Others may need to be repaired. But by Thursday we will know exactly what we have."
Hart said students couldn't believe it when they heard about the fire.
"The students were pretty stunned and asking 'why did it happen?'" he said. "They were kind of down...Being a member of a band is kind of like a second home for many of these students. They really bonded together."
Band instruments range from
About a dozen of the East Ridge band students still plan to take part in Saturday's All State auditions event at
"We are still trying to acquire instruments for them," she said. "And I believe that we are coming together as a community to make this happen....I am hopeful. I believe in the greater good. And the kids are strong."
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