Huron County View

Students evacuated after smoke fills band room

Superintendent addresses communication after students were dismissed



Firefighters enter and exit the Bad Axe High School on Monday. Photo by Ben Muir

Firefighters enter and exit the Bad Axe High School on Monday. Photo by Ben Muir

BAD AXE – All K-12 students were dismissed on Monday after smoke began filling the band room at the Bad Axe High School, originating from an outlet with a cellphone charger plugged into it.

“We do have an actual fire concern,” a Bad Axe official said over the loud speaker to staff and students waiting outside the school at around 10:15 a.m. on Monday. “Hang tight, get comfortable.”

Around 30 minutes before, a staff member contacted the high school office reporting there was a smell of smoke in the band room. Principal Kurt Dennis and Counselor Joel Brandel went to investigate and the source of the smoke was quickly identified and the Bad Axe Area Fire Department was called, a statement from Superintendent Greg Newland said.

Firefighters were at the scene, going in and out of the school in full gear and using fans to clear the smoke. Staff members followed fire evacuation protocols, which led to them being told to escort all high school students to the middle school gym. Newland then decided to dismiss every student in the district at 10:55 a.m., the statement said.

There were reports of some parents not being notified of the dismissal until a few hours later. Newland told the VIEW the school posted on its Facebook page, however its mass communication app the district normally uses is no longer in service.

“We’re still in process of getting a different communication system up and running,” Newland said. “Unfortunately, it is not ready as of yet. That definitely would have aided in the communication part … the bottom line is everyone was safe. No one was ever in imminent danger. The procedures and protocols that we followed administratively – I would not change a thing. We did everything we were supposed to do.”

The unofficial cause of the smoke originated from an outlet that had a cellphone charger plugged into it, Newland’s statement said. Nearby marching band shoes and an instrument were damaged during the incident.

“There were no students near the location during that part of the school day,” Newland’s statement said. “The staff and students did a great job of following procedures as we practice them during regular drills. We appreciate the quick assistance from Chief (Dave) Peruski and the entire Bad Axe (Fire) Department.”

Students returned to school on Tuesday with plans to move all band classes to another room for the immediate future.