On Sept 28., at 11:26 a.m., third period was interrupted by an unexpected fire alarm. Alton High School students and staff were ushered out of the building as three fire trucks pulled up to the school. Staff was unaware of the alarm going off, seeing as it was not a preplanned drill.
At the scene, firemen were seen atop the building near the units by student onlookers. Students waited outside the building for more information as to what happened. “I didn’t think it was a drill when I saw my teacher’s [Michelle Bachman] face,” senior Maddie Jockisch said.
Administrators were unwilling to explain the situation to students as they were lining up outside. “I don’t have anything to tell you… they are checking things now,” assistant principal Vernon Curvy said.
ASA assistant Paula Covington said that she knew what had triggered the alarm but was not at liberty at the moment to say. Safety team members said that this was not a planned fire drill and it was in fact an issue with the AC units.
After nearly 25 minutes, students and staff were allowed back into the building having missed almost half of their third-hour class.
When the students and staff were settled in their classrooms, principal Mike Bellm came over the intercom to announce to all students what had actually occurred. He said that the alarm was confirmed to be triggered by an AC unit on top of the building.
It is unclear if the AC units will need repair and when that repair will come. “The Fire Dept. and our Maintenance Team have addressed the issue and it is safe to return.
