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Hundreds of Bren Mar Park Elementary School students and staff welcomed Fairfax County first responders back to campus one month after firefighters contained a two-alarm blaze and helped the school reopen the next day.
The fire broke out Sunday, April 19, sending black smoke above the school. Crews confined the flames to the roof of an addition that was under construction, limiting the damage to the rest of the building.
On June 3, students, teachers, faculty members and PTA representatives lined the sidewalks as two Fairfax County firetrucks and an ambulance arrived for a ceremony honoring the responders. Children cheered, waved pompoms and held handmade signs, cards and posters expressing their gratitude.
Principal Elizabeth Williams said students and staff saw little evidence of the fire when they returned. She credited firefighters with transforming a two-alarm fire scene back into a functioning school in less than 24 hours.
Williams also thanked the school’s custodians and the FCPS Facilities team for preparing the building to reopen.
Student Government Association President Mason Soukphouangkham thanked the firefighters on behalf of the student body, saying their actions protected the school and meant a great deal to its community.
After the speeches and presentation of handmade gifts, students returned to class—but not before lining up to exchange high-fives and fist bumps with the first responders.