Fire damages Évry-Courcouronnes school; pupils sent home

A fire broke out overnight at Georges-Lapierre school in Évry-Courcouronnes, a town in France’s Essonne department.

It started at about 2:30 a.m.

on November 3, and the fire destroyed a staff room and part of a storage mezzanine.

The school has separate kindergarten and elementary sections, and the kindergarten wing suffered heavier damage, including smoke damage to seven classrooms and a collapsed section of roof.

No one was reported injured, and the cause of the fire is still unknown; an investigation has been opened.

The school was closed on Tuesday, with the town offering temporary care for families who had no other option.

Elementary pupils are expected to return Thursday if power is restored and the building is confirmed safe, while a temporary arrangement for kindergarten pupils is being prepared.