Fire at Woodson High School Sends Students, Teacher to Hospital

James Spear, Feature Editor|October 30, 2015

Woodson High School was engulfed in panic Friday morning as a fire broke out in one of the school’s chemistry classrooms, injuring five students and a science teacher. The class of thirty-one students was conducting a teacher-led experiment under the supervision of two members of faculty when one of the labs caught fire. Two of the students were airlifted by helicopter to the Medstar Washington Hospital Center and the Children’s Hospital on the grounds of life-threatening injuries.
Three other students were admitted to the INOVA hospital, and are currently receiving treatment. One of the teachers suffered minor burns, but made the decision to receive treatment on the scene, and is currently aiding in the investigation.

Emergency services were contacted promptly, and fire fighters worked in conjunction with the sprinkler system to extinguish the fire, which caused roughly $7500 in damages. Hazmat teams are currently deployed, and are working on containment of any hazardous material at the scene. Students were evacuated in accordance with FCPS drill policy, and awaited parental pickup on the football fields and tennis courts. Few details have been released, and the investigation is still pending, but this isn’t the first time an incident of this nature has occurred. Murray Bergtraum High School for Business Careers in Manhattan, NY, sent two of their students to the hospital during the 2013-2014 school-year with severe burns.

Superintendent Dr. Karen Garza released an email praising “the quick and calm actions of the Woodson leadership and staff” and extending support to the campus. “FCPS is truly like a family and as such, we are all deeply concerned about what happened today. I know this incident has affected the Woodson community and, as a district, we will provide as much support and assistance of students, staff members, and families as is needed.”