COLUMBIA, Mo. — Columbia firefighters swiftly responded to a fire that broke out Thursday afternoon at the under-construction Eagle Bluffs Elementary School, keeping damage mostly limited to the building’s HVAC system and preventing what could have been a much larger loss for the growing community.
According to a news release from the Columbia Fire Department, fire crews were dispatched at 3:49 p.m. to the 5400 block of Sinclair Road, where they found smoke and flames coming from the roof of the new school. Eagle Bluffs Elementary, which is located next to John Warner Middle School, is still under construction and is slated to open its doors to students in fall 2026.
About 30 firefighters arrived on the scene and quickly contained the blaze before it could spread to other critical structural areas. The department credited the successful containment to fast work on the roof and coordinated action on the ground.
The Fire Department emphasized that the blaze remained isolated mainly to the HVAC unit and did not cause wider structural damage, meaning construction will likely be able to resume with minimal delay once safety inspections are complete.
In its statement, the department noted the effectiveness of the site’s emergency response plan and the cooperation of workers at the scene: “This school represents a major investment in the future of Columbia's growing community, and the rapid response by fire crews helped protect that investment,” the Fire Department wrote.
No injuries were reported, and all construction workers safely evacuated the site thanks to what officials described as a “clear and well executed emergency plan.”
The quick action avoided potential damage to other vital building systems and classrooms in the new school, which is expected to help ease overcrowding as Columbia’s student population continues to grow.
Fire marshals are now investigating the cause of the fire to determine whether it was accidental or related to the installation or testing of the HVAC system. Such investigations are standard procedure for construction site incidents and help inform future safety practices for both the district and contractors working on major public projects.
Eagle Bluffs Elementary, once complete, will expand learning space for families in southwest Columbia and add to the city’s educational infrastructure alongside neighboring John Warner Middle School.
The Columbia Fire Department is reminding local contractors and construction crews to always review fire safety and evacuation procedures, especially when working on large public buildings that house complex mechanical systems like HVAC units and electrical wiring.
Originally reported by Jacob Richey in KOMU.
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