August 30, 2025

St. Benedict School Cancels Classes After Fire Incident

News Summary

Classes at St. Benedict School in Decorah were canceled following a fire that occurred early in the morning. The Decorah Fire Department responded to the alarm and discovered smoke coming from the utility room. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, as no students or staff were present. The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not deemed suspicious. The school aims to resume normal operations on Tuesday, pending an assessment of the damage. Updates will be provided through the school’s Facebook page.

Decorah, Iowa – St. Benedict School canceled classes on Friday following a fire incident that occurred early in the morning. The Decorah Fire Department responded to an alarm at the school around 6:25 a.m. and discovered smoke emanating from the building upon arrival.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and heat in the utility room located on the lower level. A substantial electrical service panel was identified as having extensive heat damage. Elevated levels of smoke and carbon monoxide were detected throughout the building, prompting immediate action from the responding firefighters.

To ensure the safety of the structure and its surroundings, Alliant Energy was called in to disconnect power to the school. The firefighters worked diligently to extinguish the flames and utilized ventilation techniques to clear smoke and lower carbon monoxide levels within the building. Fortunately, there were no students or staff present during the incident, and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation; however, officials have stated that it is not being considered suspicious at this time. Principal Justin Johnson conveyed that damage to the school appears to be limited, and he commended the fire department for their prompt response to the emergency.

As a result of the incident, classes at St. Benedict School are expected to resume as usual on Tuesday, pending an assessment of the damage. The school administration will provide updates on the situation through their Facebook page to keep students, parents, and community members informed.

St. Benedict School has a long history in the Decorah community, providing education for students since its founding. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety and preparedness within educational institutions.

As investigations continue, the community of Decorah remains supportive, hopeful for a quick resolution, and eager for the school to return to its regular schedule.

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Author: STAFF HERE MILWAUKEE WRITER

MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.

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