Lexington County elementary school evacuated after fire scare

A small electrical fire forced the evacuation of a Lexington County school on Thursday, and investigators are trying to determine if there was a fire.

No injuries were reported, and all students and staff are accounted for, Lexington 1 spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill told The State.

Smoke was seen coming from in an electrical closet at Gilbert Elementary School just after 1:30 p.m., Hill said. The school was evacuated.

The students and staff were relocated to the school’s cafeteria, according to Lexington County spokesman Harrison Cahill. Ten units from Lexington County responded to the school and another from Batesburg-Leesville responded.

The building is being ventilated, and investigators are trying to determine if there actually was a fire, Cahill said.

Students will dismiss at their normal time of 2:25 p.m., Hill said. An after-school program that takes place in the cafeteria will go on as planned.

Crews from SCE&G are on scene and have taken over the investigation.

A voicemail was sent to the school’s parents to inform them of the situation, Hill said.

This story was originally published August 30, 2018 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Lexington County elementary school evacuated after fire scare."