Kealing Middle School closed due to fire damage.

Kealing Middle School in Austin is closed Tuesday due to an electrical fire that broke out on the second floor of the campus Monday night. The Austin Fire Department responded to the scene at 10:40 p.m., reporting "smoke on the second floor with an electrical burning smell." The fire was contained and extinguished, and fire investigators have determined the cause to be an overloaded outlet.

The fire was quickly contained and crews immediately began to air out the school with fans and repair the damage caused by the fire and sprinklers.
— Austin school district

The Austin school district released a statement early Tuesday morning, saying that the school will be closed for repairs and that they are "grateful the building was empty and no one was harmed."

We are hopeful we can welcome students back on Wednesday, Aug. 21, but we will provide an update to families when we have more information Tuesday afternoon.
— Austin school district

This incident occurs on what would have been the first day of the 2024-25 school year. Students who need to be on campus are being accommodated in the gym and cafeteria, and bagged lunches are available for pick-up between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the back of the campus off Salina Street.