Bathroom fire forces closure of school

Authorities are investigating a fire originating from a bathroom Wednesday at Mendon Middle/High School.

Mendon Community Schools Superintendent Leasa Griffith-Mathews said the incident was reported at 9:30 a.m. and was confined to a boys’ bathroom.

She said the school’s fire-drill protocol was implemented and all students evacuated safely. Staff and administrators moved all of the building’s 270 students to bleachers at the adjacent football field in order to account for everyone, she said.

After that, the district decided to send the school’s students home. As a result, Griffith-Mathews said, its transportation department rounded up its drivers and started dismissal at 10:40.

Griffith-Mathews used the opportunity to remind parents how critical it is to complete and return emergency forms issued at the start of the school year, as they are the only way to make sure parents receive School Messenger alerts for any type of emergency.

School is scheduled to resume as usual today.

Meanwhile, Mendon Elementary was not impacted by the situation and its students adhered to their normal schedule Wednesday.