During fourth hour on the first day of Homecoming week, a fire alarm disrupted classes at Lawrence High School, prompting a sudden evacuation of all students and staff.

The evacuation was not a drill. Fire trucks soon lined the curb outside the school.

“I was in the weight room when it happened,” junior Caleb Wingerd said. “At first, I thought it was a drill, so I left my stuff in there.”

Students and staff gathered at either the football field or the bus pick-up area along Louisiana Street as firefighters worked to contain the fire inside. Nearly an hour later, everyone was allowed back into the building through the main entrance.

Students received an update about 30 minutes after the evacuation via ParentSquare, the district’s communication app.

“They sent out something on ParentSquare around 30 minutes after we evacuated,” senior Stella Comporato said. “Everyone was kind of frantically running around, and we didn’t know what to do.”

The message instructed students whose fourth-hour classes were in the language, P.E. or health hallways to report to the auditorium. Those areas were temporarily closed off due to smoke contamination. Students remained in the auditorium for about 30 more minutes as they waited for further instructions.

By 1 p.m., most students had returned to class. However, some attended the rest of the day without their backpacks or personal items, which had been left in the closed-off areas. Students whose classrooms remained inaccessible were instructed to stay in the auditorium.

“Please be assured that the safety and security of our students and staff remain our top priority,” Principal Quentin Rials said in a message to students and families.

Rials confirmed that the fire began in the women’s locker room but said the cause has not been determined. The investigation is ongoing, and the administration plans to communicate further updates as they become available.

“We appreciate your understanding and patience during this situation,” Rials said. “As soon as possible, we will provide further information regarding the next steps.”