Staff reports

LEWISTOWN — A section of Mifflin County High School flooded on Dec. 24, due to a mechanical failure of the sprinkler head.

According to a news release from the district’s superintendent, Vance Varner, the issues occurred about 9 p.m. on top of the stairs above the third floor in the A-wing.

Varner said the water release ran into some classrooms on the first, second and third floors, as well as the guidance office, and for a time, water was running out of the building.

The release states that the sensor alarm notified the 911 center and multiple fire companies assessed the situation.

More than 35 firefighters pushed water to drains outside the building to help remove the standing water.

The Director of Building and Grounds, maintenance workers, as well as custodians from across the district, were on site Christmas Eve and Christmas day to assist in the cleanup process.

“When I was in the building on Christmas Eve, I was so impressed with the efforts of the firefighters and MCSD employees working together to stop the water discharge and remove the standing water,” Varner said in the news release.

“The Mifflin County School District is indebted to the local fire companies that helped on Christmas Eve and as well as the MCSD employees that are volunteering to work over the holidays.”

The Mifflin County School District is working to bring in a water remediation company to help finish the cleanup process.

Varner said the district is not anticipating any issues with the start of school on Tuesday, Jan. 3.