Firefighters battle heavy flames at elementary school in Laurel Hollow

LAUREL HOLLOW, Long Island – A major early-morning fire caused serious damage to West Side Elementary School on Laurel Hollow Road on Tuesday. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after a fire alarm sounded inside the building shortly after 4:45 a.m.

According to officials, the fire is believed to have started in the school’s library, an area that suffered significant damage as the flames quickly spread. Thick smoke and heavy flames were seen coming through parts of the roof as firefighters worked to bring the situation under control.

Fire departments from several nearby communities responded to the emergency and worked together to battle the blaze. Crews remained on scene for nearly two hours before they were able to fully control the fire and prevent it from spreading further throughout the building.

Fortunately, the incident happened very early in the morning, before students and staff had arrived at the campus, and no injuries have been reported. Authorities say that if the fire had started later in the day, the situation could have been much more dangerous.

Officials also noted that the school building does not have a sprinkler system, as it was not required when the facility was originally constructed. Investigators will continue working to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Due to the damage caused by the blaze, West Side Elementary School will remain closed for the day, and there will be no remote learning scheduled. School district officials say they are currently working on a plan for the rest of the week while assessing the condition of the building and the extent of the damage.

The community is now waiting for further updates as authorities continue their investigation and evaluate the next steps for the school and its students.