By: Richard L. Smith
Newark Fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that broke out early Thursday morning inside 13th Avenue Elementary School in the West Ward, forcing students to relocate to other area schools.
Preliminary information indicated that the fire may have been caused by an electrical issue in the 50-year-old school building, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the incident.
Due to the fire, students have been temporarily reassigned to nearby schools.
Parents and guardians of Pre-K to 3rd-grade students can pick them up at Michelle Obama Elementary School, while students in grades 4 through 8 are accommodated at West Side High School.
Special needs students have been relocated to John F. Kennedy School on South 10th Street, around the corner.
Officials said all after-school programs for the affected students have been canceled until further notice.
Authorities continue to look into the circumstances surrounding the fire as they work to ensure the safety of the school community.
A request for information has been made to the Newark Public Safety Department and we will update this information.