UPDATE FEBRUARY 23, 2022:
The Miller School District is holding classes in four churches after a fire and explosion in the agriculture shop earlier this month (Feb. 2, 2022) rendered the school building complex unsafe.
Superintendent Dr. Charlene Crosswait there’s still a lot of cleanup to do.
Crosswait says they’ve had to rebuild their class curriculum.
She says they’re working on a plan for the ag shop, but it’s a slow process.
Crosswait says the fire and explosion have also created some collateral damage.
Anyone wanting to donate can find updated information on the district’s needs by going to the Miller School District Facebook page or by calling Hand County Emergency Management Director Arlen Gortmaker at 605-204-0267.
Incidentally, South Dakota Senator John Thune is scheduled to tour the Miller School at 1:30 this afternoon (Feb. 23, 2022). There will also be a recognition program at 2pm (First United Methodist Church 610 East 4th Avenue) and a community roundtable discussion at 3pm (Miller Community Center 526 North Broadway).
UPDATE FEBRUARY 8, 2022:
The Miller School District is still shut down after last week’s (Feb. 2, 2022) explosion and fire that started in the agriculture shop area.
Miller Fire Chief Steve Resel talks about the cause of the explosion.
Resel said the Miller School District complex– which houses grades K-12– will remain closed down until the investigation is complete.
He says no one is allowed inside the building to retrieve any items.
Resel said area churches have offered to help find space for school activities.
No one was injured in the explosion and fire. The explosion ignited a fire in the ceiling and while the roof is still intact, fire officials say it’s unstable. Sometime within the next two weeks, students in the elementary, middle and high schools will resume their classes at nearby churches.
(KOKK Radio contributed to this story.)
UPDATE FEBRUARY 2, 2022:
The Miller School District has called off classes for the rest of the week following an explosion and fire in the agriculture shop area today (Feb. 2, 2022).
Hand County Emergency Manager Arlen Gortmaker says it happened about 8:45am.
Gortmaker says all of the Miller School buildings are connected, so the smoke caused some damage.
Gortmaker thanks all of the volunteers, fire fighters, law enforcement officers, city and school staff for their help responding to the fire. Again, no one was injured.
People living several blocks from the school said they heard the explosion and saw smoke coming from the roof.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Photo credit Sarah Resel.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Photo credit Sarah Resel.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Courtesy photo.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Courtesy photo.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Courtesy photo.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Photo credit Sarah Resel.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Photo credit Sarah Resel.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Photo credit Sarah Resel.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Photo credit Sarah Resel.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Photo credit Sarah Resel.
An explosion and fire in the ag shop area Feb. 2, 2022, caused the Miller School District to evacuate buildings and call off classes for the rest of the week.
Photo credit Sarah Resel.
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UPDATE FEBRUARY 2, 2022:
MILLER, S.D. (AP and DRG Media Group) — Students have been evacuated from the high school in Miller following an explosion and fire in the agriculture shop area.
Miller Fire Chief Steve Resel tells DRG Media Group, the cause of the explosion is under investigation.
People living several blocks from the school said they heard the explosion and saw smoke coming from the roof of the school.
MILLER, S.D. (AP) — Officials say students have been evacuated from a high school in Miller following an explosion and fire in the shop area (Feb. 2, 2022). School board chairwoman Natalie Bertsch says no injuries have been reported. The Hand County Sheriff’s Office confirmed an explosion had occurred in the agriculture workshop at the school and that a fire was still active. People living several blocks from the school said they heard the explosion and saw smoke coming from the roof of the school.
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