Fire destroys Ky. school for children with disabilities

A fire destroyed the Dessie Scott School building Thursday night, leaving students with disabilities and staff searching for ways to continue their education and daily living programs.

The school serves children with disabilities who are wards of the state. Students live on campus and receive training in independent living skills and job preparation.

Principal Robert Creech said he tried to salvage what he could from the older building, but the fire spread too quickly.

“It’s an older building, and a lot of wood in there, it just rapidly took off, and once it got going there wasn’t much stopping it,” Creech said.

School staff spent Friday discussing next steps and how to continue teaching without the building. Creech said Dessie Scott Children’s Home has other buildings on campus that could serve as temporary classrooms.

“Around the other side of this building, we have a nice big church chapel, maybe utilize it, or admin building, or some of our cottages,” Creech said.

Harris and Creech said the most important thing is that nobody was hurt in the fire.

Wolfe and Lee County fire departments responded to the blaze. Creech said crews decided to let the fire burn out safely rather than create more damage. The cause remains under investigation.

Credit: WKYT