CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Classes are cancelled at L.C. Bird High School Thursday after an early-morning accident and fire inside the school. Investigators said a van crashed into the school building and caught fire around 1:30 a.m. When crews arrived, they found a van inside the main door.
It took 45 minutes to get the fire under control. The fire caused the school's sprinklers to activate. No word yet on the severity of the damage the fire and water caused.
Sources tell CBS 6 that someone stole the van and tied a brick to the gas pedal before slamming into the school.
Crews spent all day cleaning up the fire damage that now left the front of the building boarded up.
Parents and students want to why this happened.
"I thought it was pretty crazy,” said concerned parent Richard Avery. “It's pretty intense."
"Some people are making jokes about it,” said Callie Grimes, a junior at L.C. Bird. “And other people are serious about it.”
When Grimes was asked if she thought it was funny, she replied, “not really.”
Police are still searching for the driver and the owner of the stolen van. There is no word yet on any charges or the cost and extent of the damage at the school.
Here is the message that Chesterfield County School sent to parents of L.C. Bird students this morning:
Parents,
This is Chesterfield County Public Schools calling families with students attending Bird High School.
Classes are cancelled for today – Thursday, Jan. 22 – due to an accident and fire that occurred at the school earlier this morning. At this time, police and fire officials continue to investigate. There is smoke and water damage and no students or staff will be allowed in the building.
We will share additional information later as it becomes available.
Again, classes at Bird High School are cancelled today, Thursday, Jan. 22.
Stay with CBS 6 for the developing story.
