Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy evacuated due to smoke

Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy students were sent home Friday morning after a malfunctioning heating system started a small fire on the school’s roof.

Coeur d’Alene fire Deputy Chief Glenn Lauper said the heating unit blew smoke into two classrooms.

“The whole building pretty much smelled like smoke,” he said.

Police began evacuating students around 7:45 a.m. Friday as the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department searched the building. Lauper said firefighters tested the air inside the building and the school made the decision to send students home around 8:30 a.m.

The charter school, located at 4904 N. Duncan Drive, has students in grades 6-12.

Lauper said the heating system has been isolated and will need to be repaired. The school has two other heating systems that are able to keep the building warm.