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Less than a week before students were due to head back to class, the kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Stewart Valley has been destroyed in a fire.
According to the fire chief in Stewart Valley, the school was struck by lightning Friday just after 6 a.m.
“We had a major lightning strike this morning,” Stewart Valley Fire Chief Dan Barber said. “We had a major lightning storm go through — it dumped an inch and a half of rain or so — but the lightning was just right on us. It actually hit the east side of the school on the roof and just got into the ceiling tiles …
“I think the lightning was so strong, it must have started the beams inside on top of the ceiling tiles on fire and got everything burning.”
As of 2 p.m. Friday, fire crews were still battling the flames.
“We started at 6:30 this morning and we’re still pumping water on it now,” Barber said. “There’s thundershowers predicted for this afternoon, so we want to make sure it’s out so it doesn’t get started again.”
The Stewart Valley School was destroyed by fire after being struck by lightning on Aug. 26, 2022. (Jennie Moen/Facebook)
Barber said community members rallied together and tried their best to save the school.
“That’s the way Stewart Valley operates. We had people show up from the whole RM, our volunteer firefighters showed up (and) the City of Swift Current sent two fire trucks out here to help us fight it,” he said.
Barber said about a dozen farmers helped with their water trucks and women brought lunch and snacks.
Firefighters were able to save the daycare next door, but it was too late for the school.
“We kept working at it, but we finally lost it. There was nothing we could do,” Barber said. “The school had a beautiful gym. It was just a nice old school, very well-maintained, but we lost it all today …
“It’s pretty sad for everyone in the community.”
The Chinook School Division is working on a plan for where the 41 students who were registered at Stewart Valley will now attend school.
In a statement, the school division said it would be providing counselling and supports in the community for the school’s staff and students.
“The division’s Emergency Management Plan has been implemented and we are currently working on an operational plan for the upcoming school year,” the statement said. “We will be meeting with staff and school families as soon as possible.
“Our thoughts are with the community of Stewart Valley, and everyone connected to the school and the memories it holds.”
The village’s mayor, Cary Thibert, said the concerns were with the children.
“Our community now is without our school and we’re worried about our kids (and) where they’re going to go,” Thibert said.
Stewart Valley is located 35 kilometres north of Swift Current.