Fire at East Ridge High School damages band equipment: ‘It’s very devastating’

A Lake County high school band’s marching season is in peril after a fire broke out Thursday in the building that houses the band room-- just as football season is in full swing, the school’s band director said.

Clermont firefighters responded to the blaze about 8:30 p.m. Thursday at East Ridge High School after custodians reported seeing smoke coming out of a building. Firefighters were on scene for four hours putting out the fire, which broke out in a storage room, Clermont spokeswoman Kathryn Deen said in an email.

Deen said the cause of the fire was accidental and it was limited to only that building. No one was injured.

Jack Hall, band director at East Ridge, said he was alerted to the blaze Thursday night by a parent of one of his band students.

“And normally my students’ parents don’t really call me, so when I saw the number, I was shocked,” he said. “...I was given pictures of the damage and it was quite extensive.”

Photos from the scene show a row of damaged lockers where Hart said students kept their personal instruments, as well as melted water jugs and other burned items.

It’s unclear how much of the band’s equipment was damaged. Hart said an insurance adjuster for the school plans to come Monday for an assessment. He said the school will likely replace its own damaged instruments, but is unsure whether the students’ personal equipment would be covered.

“There were some kids that had just purchased new instruments. They were so proud of them,” he said. “... It’s very devastating.”

In an email, Orlando Fire Department spokeswoman Ashley Papagni said an OFD firefighter whose daughter attends East Ridge estimated 90 percent of band equipment for about 100 students was damaged.

Hart said he plans to reach out to band directors and music companies throughout the state and country, asking for donated equipment, “even for just temporarily.”

His classes will also likely have to find a new place to practice, though he’s unsure where that will be.

“We don’t know where we’re going to rehearse,” he said.

In a tweet, the football team offered support for the band, saying “[s]tay tuned as we find out how we can help them fix or replace equipment to get them back on the field as fast as possible!”

The marching band, Hart said, is a vital part of Friday night football. Though the sports season could carry on without the band, “without those instruments our season is practically over,” he said.

The school’s next game is Sept. 13.

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