Fire Ravages Delaware County Catholic School

SPRINGFIELD, PA — A Delaware County catholic school was severely damaged by a fire Monday evening, but luckily no one was hurt.

The fire broke out at about 5:08 p.m. at the Saint Francis of Assisi School, 112 Saxer Ave. in Springfield, the Springfield Fire Company said.

Firefighters who showed up found fire coming out of the second floor, extending to the roof.

The fire was raised to two alarms as crews from Springfield and numerous other fire companies worked to quell the blaze.

After about five hours, the fire was placed under control.

A school custodian was reported to be missing, but was accounted for shortly after. No one else was in the building at the time of the fire and no one was hurt, the fire company said.

Fire companies that assisted at the scene were Garrettford-Drexel Hill Fire, Primos-Secane Fire Company, Holmes Fire Company Station 43, Bon Air Fire Company, Middletown Fire Company, Broomall Fire Company, Garden City Fire Company, Rocky Run Fire Company, Manoa Fire Company - Station 56, Swarthmore Fire & Protective Assn. - Station 14, Rose Tree Fire Company, and Woodlyn Volunteer Fire Company Delco Station 67 Canteen. West Grove Fire Company covered Springfield Township while its firefighters were at the scene.

The Springfield Fire Company thanked Wawa, Thunderbird II Pizza Springfield, Saint Francis eighth graders, Springfield Township commissioners, and community members who provided food and beverages to the firefighters.

"We understand how tragic this fire was, but no one was injured, which is paramount," the fire company said. "The community will rally around Saint Francis, and we will come out stronger in the end."

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Springfield Township Police, ATF, Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, and the Delaware County DA's Criminal Investigation Division.

The school is closed Tuesday and students in second grade, as well as fourth through eighth, will attend classes in another building on the campus, NBC10 reports.

"As the smoke clears today - literally and figuratively - we would like to thank all who have reach out in prayer and support," a post on the school's Facebook page reads. "We are grateful for the Springfield Fire Department, Springfield Police and all the neighboring First Responders who worked tirelessly to fight the fire. We know so many want to know how they can help and what the next steps will be. Today we are asking for prayers, both of Thanksgiving that no one was injured and for Wisdom as our principal, pastor and school/parish staff work with the Archdiocese and local resources to develop a plan for next steps. We will communicate all efforts to support our school, teachers, staff and students as soon as we can. God bless you all. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us."

Patch has reached out to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for more information and will update the story when additional details are made available.