By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

All Prairie Central Schools were closed Wednesday due to extreme cold, and Superintendent Paula Crane considers that lucky, considering the upper elementary building in Forrest suffered from smoke damage from an early morning fire.

There were only two custodians inside the building when they both noticed the smell of smoke before 7:30 in the morning and immediately called 911. Crane said the Forrest – Strawn – Wing fire department was there in minutes to find a heater built into the walls at the school’s entrance had overheated and started on fire, producing black smoke and intense heat.

Crane said there was primarily smoke damage to the area and restoration has been done to the bricks, ceiling tiles and air purifiers added to the area.

“We were extremely lucky with the way it all happened. We did have people in the building that detected the smoke and the smell right away. The fire department responded very quickly. It was really just amazing how everything really went like clockwork. We had custodians from several of our other buildings and staff members converge to really work together to get the building ready for the kids to return. That all happened very quickly so I’m just very appreciative of the way that it went and of the excellent staff that we have that is willing to pitch in and do whatever it takes to get this building ready and safe for kids,” Crane said.