A three-alarm fire damaged Lulu M. Ross Elementary School in Milford, Delaware, early Sunday morning, October 25. Milford School District canceled classes for the week as officials surveyed the building and arranged alternative learning space for more than 600 students.
The school will remain closed from October 26 through 30, with no in-person or remote instruction during the week. District officials are working on short- and long-term plans to get students back to learning while they assess the damaged building.
Superintendent Travis Moorman described the incident as “a heartbreaking thing to see and to try to recover from”, a local outlet reported. The school had 614 students enrolled for the 2025–26 school year.
Emergency crews were called to the automatic fire alarm shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. Upon arrival, they found flames coming from the roof and fire along the north side of the school’s Kent wing. Crews tried to fight it from inside but had to back off as conditions deteriorated.
Carlisle Fire Company Chief Brennon Fountain, the first officer on scene, found heavy smoke and flames around the roof, so they escalated the incident to a working fire. Fifteen fire departments responded to help contain the blaze, which took approximately three hours.
No one was injured, and no students or employees were in the building when the fire started.
Fire Damaged Classrooms, Library and Administrative Offices
The fire heavily damaged the Kent wing and spread to the main lobby, administrative offices and library. Several classrooms in the Kent and New Castle hallways were also heavily damaged. Smoke and water also affected areas outside those directly hit by flames, so crews had to assess areas beyond the flames.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials have found no evidence of criminal activity and are yet to release an estimate of the damage.
The district is exploring options for housing displaced students in other school buildings. Moorman said the district was “pretty fortunate in that we do have some space in several of our schools”, but officials still need to determine how to organize classes and support staff.
The fire also affected nearby Mispillion Elementary School, which shares a campus with Lulu Ross. Damage to the fibre-optic cables left Mispillion without internet access or working phone systems, so the district closed it separately on Monday, October 26; it said the loss of communications “created safety concerns”. Other schools in the district were scheduled to be open as usual.
District Plans Support for Students and Families
The district is working with state agencies to identify resources for affected students, families and staff; officials are also looking at ways to coordinate meal distribution for families who may rely on school meals as well as access to mental health support.
In a statement, Moorman said the district’s crisis team would meet regularly to develop its response and that current and former students who need help dealing with the fire’s emotional fallout should contact school counselors, mental health professionals or administrators.
Delaware Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said the goal was to help children “stay stable” during disruption.
“As an educator, I know what children need most right now is to feel safe and supported by the teachers they know and trust in the school community,” Marten said in a statement.
“Educators and staff also needed support as they navigated disruption with students,” she added.
The district has received assistance from neighboring districts, local organizations, businesses and churches. Milford Mayor Todd Culotta also supported the recovery effort, saying, “A school is people. It’s community. We’re gonna build buildings again. You know, thank God nobody got hurt here.”
Officials have not yet announced a reopening date or final plans for students whose classrooms were damaged. Right now, the district is working to find appropriate learning space, support families and staff and determine the extent of the damage before making longer-term decisions.
