PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) -- A fire that destroyed part of a suburban Philadelphia Catholic school marks "a time of difficulty" but "not one of despair," said Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia.
The two-alarm blaze broke out sometime before 5 p.m. Oct. 7 on the second floor of St. Francis of Assisi School in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania, located some 20 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
A combined crew from more than 15 local fire companies battled the flames for approximately 5 hours. There were no injuries, and the school's janitor -- who was briefly reported to be missing -- was quickly located, with the building otherwise unoccupied.
According to the Springfield Fire Company, which said it had arrived on the scene within two minutes of receiving the emergency call, the cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Springfield Township Police, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal, and the Delaware County, Pennsylvania, District Attorney's criminal investigation division.
The ruined structure had housed classrooms for pre-K and kindergarten students, as well as those in first and third grade, said Kenneth A. Gavin, chief communications officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, in a statement emailed to OSV News.
Classes at the school -- which was opened in 1929, and which has been recognized as an Archdiocese of Philadelphia "School of Distinguished Instruction" -- were canceled Oct. 8, and "efforts are already underway to locate an alternate learning location for those who will be affected by the loss of classroom space," said Gavin.
He added that the archdiocese's "concern is for the safety of the school community, the community-at-large," with the archdiocese "working to provide continued instruction with as little interruption as possible."
Archbishop Pérez said in an Oct. 8 letter to the school community that "in the midst of these challenges, we raise our voices in Thanksgiving to God that there was no loss of life and that no one was injured as a result of the fire."
He commended the "swift response" of the Springfield Fire Company and all the units and individuals who had assisted in extinguishing the fire.
"Because of their timeliness and professionalism, the blaze did not spread to the church or other nearby buildings," said Archbishop Pérez. "Our emergency personnel put themselves at great risk to serve us each day and they deserve our unending thanks."
He shared the community's grief over the fire, saying, "My heart sank with deep sorrow" upon learning about the disaster.
"This moment is one of pain and anxiety for your community and I have been praying for you intensely," said the archbishop.
Yet even amid such anguish, there is hope, he stressed.
"While this is a time of difficulty, it is not one of despair. Much work is already being done to provide for the educational needs of school families and to ensure safety on the grounds of the parish," he said.
The archbishop he noted had spoken with Father Matthew Tralies, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, saying in his letter that the conversation made clear the priest "serves you with great zeal and that the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish community is a resilient one."
On its Facebook page, the school echoed that message.
"Rest assured, we are a strong community," said the school in an Oct. 7 post. "We are surrounded by a town that cares about us. Things can always be replaced. People cannot. And it will be the people, through our collective efforts, that see through this difficult time.
"Remember, Jesus rose from the dead, and just as He did, we will rise from the ashes together," said the school in its post.
"I know that you will continue working with one another toward recovery and that God will give you strength," said Archbishop Pérez in his message. "You are not alone."
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