Msgr. Clarke School Evacuated After Boiler Boom

Children and adults at Monsignor Matthew F. Clarke School in Wakefield got a fright but nobody was hurt after a boiler malfunctioned with a loud boom and black smoke on Wednesday.

Principal John T. Finnegan and Assistant Principal John A. Connell said in a letter that the water heater in the cafeteria malfunctioned at around 12:15 p.m.

“There was a loud boom and black smoke that came from the closet in the cafeteria,” the letter said.

Children in Pre-K to grade 2 were in the cafeteria at the time of the malfunction, grades 3 to 5 were at recess and grades 6 to 8 were in their homerooms, the ltter stated.

School officials evacuated the building by turning on the fire alarm and members of the Union Fire District and South Kingstown police and responded.

The cause of the boom was not immediately known and the evacuation was performed out of an abundance of caution.

“”The safety of our students is our highest priority. The faculty, staff and students conducted themselves in an absolute phenomenal manner,” the letter stated. ”First responders inspected the building and cleared it for our return to daily business. The boiler will be repaired and the building has been declared safe.”

The water heater will be repaired and the building was inspected and deemed safe.

Photo: Monsignor Matthew Clarke School via Facebook