BETHEL TOWNSHIP - Bethel Elementary school students had an unexpected early dismissal Wednesday morning due to a fire in the building.

 

According to Bethel Township Assistant Chief Josh Schiebrel, the fire department received a call at approximately 9:23 a.m. Oct. 20 in reference to a fire in a restroom on the side of the building. Crews arrived at the building roughly three minutes later and the children had already been evacuated due to the smoke.

 

“There was a fire in a trashcan in the elementary restroom,” said Schiebrel. “The fire was contained to one room so crews put it out quickly.”

 

“That bathroom is primary brick and stone. The fire was contained and the door was shut immediately after it started,” said Superintendent Jeff Cassell. “Nobody was hurt. The only real damage was a plastic trashcan and a paper towel dispenser.”

 

There was also some smoke damage and scorching on the brick wall.

 

School officials made the decision to evacuate the students due to the smoke odor throughout the building, said Schiebrel.

 

“I can’t say enough about the Bethel Fire Department and Bethel School’s staff and students for the great job they did. They really handled the situation well,” said Cassell.

 

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but new security cameras that were installed Tuesday caught the incident.

 

“The new camera system helped us identify the individual,” said Cassell.