‘It just went up in flames’: Northern Manitoba school destroyed by fire

A northern Manitoba school went up in flames early Tuesday morning.

A school in a northern Manitoba First Nation has been ravaged by fire, as officials search for a new building to serve the 380 students who are now displaced.

Berens River First Nation said in a news release the fire was first reported at around 3 a.m. Tuesday in a secured area of the north wing.

Resident April Swain found out about the blaze when she saw a post on Facebook early Tuesday morning.

She woke up both of her parents and headed to the school.

“When we got there, there were no flames yet, and we noticed the fire truck was there, so our first instinct was to take initiative and to go to the water truck drivers’ houses,” she said.

They woke them up and returned to the scene. Things had escalated, she said.

“The fire was on the other side of the school, so we couldn’t see it, and as soon as a wind picked up, it just went up in flames.”

The First Nation said the fire spread rapidly. First responders worked for six hours to contain the flames from spreading further.

“However, despite their best efforts, the school was a complete loss,” the First Nation said.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner has been notified, Manitoba RCMP said.

Berens River First Nation chief and council noted they would not speculate on the cause and will await the fire marshal’s investigation.

As a precautionary measure, the community has been asked to stay indoors to avoid exposure to smoke, as it may contain toxic materials posing potential health risks.

Search begins for space to house 380 students (subhead)

Meanwhile, the chief and council have been in communication with the Frontier School Division, school committees, boards and emergency services to develop short-term and long-term solutions for the 380 students currently attending the school.

All options for temporary classroom space and alternative learning arrangements are being explored to ensure students can resume their education as soon as possible, council said.

The First Nation said the school was a cornerstone of the community.

“Today marks a profound loss for Berens River – one filled with memories, academic achievements, community events and the collective experiences of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who walked those halls.”

Swain too is devastated by the loss.

“I prayed so hard for the school not to burn down, for the kids’ sake, because I’ve worked as an educational assistant for three years in that school too, and when you work there, you become family.”

- With files from CTV’s Joseph Bernacki