Collected Rainfall Floods Heritage Christian; Bridgeport Fire Department on Scene
By Julie Perine on September 10, 2018 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
At 6:58 a.m. Monday, a call was dispatched for structure flooding on Newton Street, Bridgeport. According to Paul Bump, bureau chief, Harrison County Emergency Services & Public Safety, rainfall had collected at Heritage Christian School due to a blocked drain. Bridgeport Fire Department responded.
Heritage Christian School Principal Melissa Mohr said one of her early-duty teachers discovered the water this morning. She said she received a phone call around 6:15 a.m. from the teacher, who suspected there had been a major water leak. What, in fact, had happened is that water had accumulated on the roof and leaked into the school.
Mohr said a massive amount of water remains inside the school.
“It pulled the ceiling down, which then hit a sprinkler pipe which caused even more water,” she said.
Bridgeport Fire Department is assessing the safety of the situation this morning and Mohr awaits a call from a mitigation specialist.
“We did find out that most of our building is safe for usage,” Mohr said. “Likely, we will be back in school Thursday but that is not 100 percent sure.”
Bridgeport Fire Chief Phil Hart said upon arrival, he and his crew evacuated the building, secured utilities and made a call to the State Fire Marshal to come inspect the building. Hart said there was a significant amount of water on the third floor and below.
“The roof structure is a V-shape and the water drains to the center and the drains carry the water out,” he said. “The drains became obstructed, holding the water and not allowing it to drain.”
About five feet of water had built up on the roof of the structure.
“The added weight compromised some of the structural components in the roof, lowering the ceiling inside the classroom and giving way to bust the sprinkler system and pipe, allowing water to run,” Hart said.
Assisted by Bridgeport Fire Department and secured with a rope and harness, a school staff member cleaned the drains, Hart said.
It has recently been determined that the 157 students who attend Heritage Christian School will temporarily attend class at Fairmont’s Trinity Assembly of God.
