Fire damage 'limited' at Whitehorse's Selkirk Elementary School, classes to resume Tuesday

A fire at Whitehorse's Selkirk Elementary School on Friday morning started in a compost bin and was human-caused, officials say.

In an email sent to parents on Friday afternoon, school principal Leslie Doran said it happened in one of the school's second-floor bathrooms and was a "contained fire with limited damage to the premise." She said it's still under investigation. 

Parents were asked earlier on Friday to pick up their children at the school as soon as possible because of the fire, though no details were given at the time about the incident.

In her email later on Friday, Doran thanked parents for their "patience and collaboration."

She also said it will take a few days for the air inside the school to be cleared of smoke-related toxins and so the school will remain closed on Monday. 

When classes resume on Tuesday, the school's second floor will still be closed off. That means any classes normally held on the second floor will be temporarily relocated to other spaces on the main floor, Doran said. Staff will direct students where to go when they arrive on Tuesday.

Doran also asked parents to contact her or the school's vice-principal if their child gives them any information about what happened.