Lawrence school closes after blaze tears through building

Students who left the John R. Rollins Early Childhood Center in Lawrence for Christmas break last week won’t be able to return until at least the start of the next school year after a fire heavily damaged the century-old building, a fire official said.

A three-alarm fire tore through the building’s third floor and roof Saturday evening according to John McInnis, Lawrence Fire Department’s deputy chief. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries in the blaze.

But the fire caused heavy damage to the roof, opening it up to the wet winter weather, McInnis said.

“They’re trying to secure the building now, they’re having a company board up the building,” he said. “I assume the building will be out six months, maybe a year . ... I was hoping for maybe next September for the start of the 2018 school year.”

The school, originally built in 1892, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and McInnis called it a “beautiful building.” He said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The district plans to relocate the 200 students who attend the school to St. Mary of the Assumption nearby, McInnis said, adding that officials are working to set up transportation and other arrangements by the time students return from break.

“It will be a tough adjustment for the children to go to school there, absolutely,” McInnis said. “We’re hoping we’ll have it all in place by the start of next week.”