Weekend fire shuts down West Limestone cafeteria

Nov. 06--Parts of West Limestone High School will be shut down for up to two weeks after a fire caused extensive smoke damage in the school's kitchen and cafeteria this weekend, schools officials said.

At approximately 2 p.m. Sunday, the West Limestone Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire at the school, which was isolated to an ice maker in the kitchen, Superintendent of Limestone County Schools Dr. Tom Sisk said.

According to Steve Wallace, maintenance director for Limestone County Schools, the fire is still under investigation but appears to have been caused by a short in the plug. The machine was relatively new, Wallace said, and showed no signs of being faulty. It even still had ice in it after the fire was extinguished.

The local fire department contained the fire quickly, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the cafeteria, Sisk said.

"It could have been so much worse, had it not been for their quick response," Sisk said. "The cafeteria is in the middle of the school complex. If it would have went up in flames, the whole school would have went with it."

The fire caused mostly smoke damage and will take one to two weeks to mitigate, Sisk said. Ceiling tiles throughout the area have to be removed and replaced, all hard surfaces need to be wiped down and floors need to be scrubbed.

Additionally, the kitchen equipment must be taken apart, manually cleaned and reassembled. Before the cafeteria reopens, it will have to pass inspection with the Alabama Department of Public Health.

In the meantime, the cafeteria at nearby Sugar Creek Elementary will supply West Limestone students with hot breakfasts and lunches, which they will eat in their classrooms.

According to Sisk, child nutrition program workers from both schools will work together to prepare the extra meals at the elementary school, which will be transported daily in LCS-owned box vans.

"We are going to try to keep everything as normal and according to their daily routine possible," Sisk said.

Wallace said damage caused by the fire should be covered by the school's insurance policy.

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