Huge fire, smoke change nearby school schedules

A five-alarm warehouse fire at Callaghan Tire altered schedules for students attending schools in the surrounding area.

Southeast High School, located about eight blocks south of the fire, was dismissed at 1:45 p.m. School District of Manatee County spokesman Mike Barber said school administrators were keeping students who walk at school due to smoky conditions.

Barber said parents received an automated message from the district notifying them of the change.

“No students have been harmed or are in danger, but heavy smoke in the area may result in traffic delays and may cause buses to run behind schedule,” the message stated. “Because of the heavy smoke in the area, the school is holding all students who walk to school on campus until their parents can pick them up.”

Samoset Elementary, located about 12 blocks northeast of the fire, dismissed at normal time, but school administrators asked parents to pick up students who walk.

Administrators at Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication, nine blocks north of the fire, evacuated all students to the former Orange-Ridge Bullock Elementary School building. Rowlett purchased the building from the School District of Manatee County last year and will be opening a middle school at the facility in the fall.

This story was originally published May 18, 2017 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Huge fire, smoke change nearby school schedules."