By: Jeff Sommes
Firefighters worked aggressively Saturday night to contain a rapidly spreading fire near a school after flames threatened nearby structures.
Emergency crews were dispatched shortly before 9:50 p.m. to the area of 425 Grier Avenue, where firefighters initially encountered a tree fire near the Thomas A. Edison Career & Technical Academy.
As conditions worsened, incident commanders upgraded the response after reporting numerous exposure concerns, with embers being carried toward surrounding buildings, including the school.
Fire officials established multiple water supplies and deployed several handlines to attack the fire from different directions.
Ladder Company 3 was assigned to access the roof of the school to check for any fire extension after commanders reported a significant amount of airborne embers landing on the building.
Firefighters ultimately prevented the flames from spreading to the school while crews continued to monitor the roof and surrounding area for hot spots.
No injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
RLS Media will provide additional information as it becomes available.