A massive fire that consumed a vacant elementary school in Silver Spring overnight continues to burn Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire remains unknown as firefighters work to control the flames. The fire at Joann Leleck Elementary School at Broad Acres on Beacon Road near Northampton Drive started around 9 p.m. Tuesday. Heavy smoke spread from the school to the Beltway, affecting nearby apartments, but rain helped mitigate its impact. Eighty-five firefighters from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties worked to control the fire, which quickly spread to two alarms. Despite the intensity of the flames, no firefighters were injured. The school was undergoing demolition for a new building and was unoccupied. The new school, intended to accommodate over 900 students, was scheduled to open in August 2026. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and it is too early to determine how it will affect the construction timeline. The flames and smoke continued to fill the sky over eight hours after the blaze was first detected. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety measures and the risks associated with abandoned or under-construction buildings.
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