Fire Forces Evacuations at Ben Franklin High School
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A public high school near Broad and Spring Garden was evacuated this morning after a fire broke out in one of its classrooms.
The fire broke out about 10am at Ben Franklin High School, 550 North Broad Street.
Sophomore Michael Bonner was on the fourth floor when, he says, they heard an alarm and an announcement:
" 'Exit the building, this is a real fire alarm.' As I'm leaving my classroom I see how my floor is completely smoked up and how one classroom is completely engulfed in smoke," he told KYW Newsradio.
Bonner says they were able to get out quickly and safely.
School district spokesman Fernando Gallard says the students were evacuated to nearby Franklin Learning Center.
"Really amazing work by our teachers and administrators," Gallard said afterward. "Students came out of the building, no injuries. We had approximately 450 students in the building."
Officials were still investigating the cause of the fire which, according to school officials, started in a regular classroom (rather than a science lab or similar location) where a science class was taking place.
Gallard says the school district's goal is to reopen the school building on Tuesday.
