Wednesday, Nov 19

Darlington School was placed under a soft lockdown today due to a fire at the Bekaert Plant, only about 1.1 miles away. According to the Rome News Tribune, “the fire started at around 2 p.m. on a bead wire line where it plates the wire… The fire started in one of the hoods and spread to the ceiling.” No fatalities or injuries have been reported. Residencies within the half-mile radius have been evacuated and those nearby have been instructed to stay indoors. At 3:01 PM, the Darlington Communication Office sent a text message stating that we were under “soft lockdown due to a fire at Bekaert Corp.” At 3:08 PM, Darlington Communication Office issued another text message stating that “ELA-8 students [are] released to parents. Buses will run. Students who drive may leave; those waiting on [a] parent, go to library. Residential students go to dorms.” Below is a link to the original Rome News Tribune article. More updates to follow…

http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/bekaert-hr-no-one-hurt-everyone-evacuated-from-large-fire/article_c928b9fa-7021-11e4-9f99-4f5e6c6320d7.html

UPDATE: 3:42 PM – Darlington School lost electricity at all facilities

4:24 PM – Electricity restored to Darlington School

Photos by Jamie Beck and Robert Muschamp

Gallery • 3 Photos

Bekaert fire from the Huffman