March 16, 2023

Yesterday afternoon around 4 pm, a small localized fire in the Donalda School gym wall occurred and was extinguished by the Stettler Regional Fire Department.  Due to smoke damage released throughout the school and the need for more clean up, the school will be closed for the remainder of this week and the entirety of next week.  This closure is necessary to ensure that our environment is safe for the return of students and staff. 

The fire is believed to have started due to faulty wiring in the school gym and an investigation will take place to verify the actual cause.

Several staff members were in the building when this incident occurred, with one member calling 911 upon noticing the smoke. There were no students in the school when this incident occurred, and all staff were evacuated safely.

School staff and administration are currently discussing plans for learning to occur in an alternate location until the school is deemed safe for classes to resume.  The current plan would see students return to in-school classes after the Spring Break.  The school gymnasium will require extensive repair and will be closed until further notice.

The estimated costs to address the smoke damage includes at least $500,000 and will see significant remediation in the gym where the fire occurred.

We are thankful for the decisive action of our staff members and for the quick and professional response of the firefighters in our area.