More News

Clarksburg Elementary School No. 8 will open on time despite a fire on the roof that forced the evacuation of dozens of construction workers Tuesday morning, school system officials said.

The fire, at 12615 Royal Crown Drive in Germantown, began when welders working on the second floor caused some construction and roofing material on the roof to overheat, according to statements from officials with the school system and the county Fire and Rescue Service.

The welding caused a stockpile of insulation to overheat and catch fire. School officials estimated about 54,000 square feet of roof insulation burned.

The blaze brought about 50 Montgomery County firefighters to the scene around 8 a.m. No injuries were reported. School system and fire and rescue officials said the fire was under control by about 9 a.m.

The fire caused $80,000 to $90,000 in damage to roof insulation and the roof deck, said Steve Simon, a spokesman with Montgomery County Public Schools.

Simon said the contractor will pay for the damage.

The 88,024 square foot school is scheduled to open in August on a 10-acre site in Germantown's Milestone community. Early assessments of the fire's aftermath indicate the school can still meet its current construction timetable, Simon said.

"From what I understand, they will be able to keep the project on schedule, although it's clearly a setback and the contractors will work to meet the schedule," he said.

He said the contractors expect to be back on the site within two weeks after a structural engineer has inspected the building.

The school is projected to enroll 584 students when it opens for kindergartners through fourth graders in 2009 and 694 students when fifth graders are added in 2010.3