Parkside Jr. High expected to reopen Monday after electrical fire

March 27-- Mar. 27--NORMAL -- Parkside Junior High School is expected to be ready for students' return from spring break after an electrical fire at the school Wednesday morning.

Utility crews are working to repair the damage caused by the fire that began outside the building at 101 N. Parkside Road.

Neighbors reported the fire just after 5 a.m. Flames, estimated to rise 20 feet according to a witness, were seen in the main bus duct that feeds electricity into the building.

"The original piece of equipment from 1974, the bus duct (the main electricity feed) -- that's completely ruined," said Joe Adelman, director of operations for the McLean County Unit 5.

The blaze did not reach the inside of the school. The roof was inspected for damage from burning debris, but Unit 5 officials said none was found.

No injuries were reported, and classes and school operations were not interrupted since the district is on spring break this week.

There was no immediate information on what caused the fire.

Workers from Corn Belt Energy and Illinois Prairie Electric were called to the school to assess the damage and begin repairs. Three large transformers were removed from a concrete pad adjoining the school. One transformer was heavily damaged with signs of smoke on its exterior.

A school maintenance worker said trucks removed food stored in the school's freezers early Wednesday morning. There had been no assessment if computers or servers in the school were damaged.

Crews are working to take apart the old equipment that will be replaced by a smaller, more modern version that will be enclosed and protected from the elements, Adelman said.

A worker for Corn Belt Energy said the repairs would take a minimum of three days to complete, in time for the the school to open on Monday as planned.

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