Students and staff at the Noblesville High School Freshman Campus were kept safe when a very small welding tank caught fire in the construction area on the southwest side of the school at approximately 10:20 a.m. March 20.
Students were already outside for statewide safety drills when the fire occurred and remained outside as Noblesville firefighters put out the fire and checked the carbon monoxide levels inside the school. It was determined that carbon monoxide levels were not raised and students and staff were released to return to class.
School officials said the fire took place in a newly built electrical area of the addition under construction at the school. Electricity to the area had not yet been turned on. The area was being used temporarily to store construction equipment, including small welding tanks and electrical door panels that were enclosed in cardboard boxes.
Initial reports indicate that a welder was on the roof above the room welding clamps and sparks fell from his equipment into the room and set the cardboard on fire. Pressure from within the welding tanks was released through the valves and the only damage was to the tanks and the panels that were being stored in the electrical room.