Electrical Short Blamed For Smoke At Neligh-Oakdale School

An electrical short is believed to be the cause of "an isolated incident" at Neligh-Oakdale Public Schools on Thursday night.

According to Superintendent Kim Lingenfelter, custodians smelled smoke near the stage area following a volleyball triangular and investigated. She said smoke soon filled the stage area, and the fire department was called. Lingenfelter said there was not a fire.

"The fire department investigated and believes there may have been a short in the fan motor between the stage area and gym that caused a breaker to blow. We will investigate that," Lingenfelter said Friday morning. "Electrician Mike Seier came to the school last night, confirmed the breaker and disconnected it. He called it an isolated incident."

Earlier in the evening, Neligh-Oakdale hosted a volleyball triangular. Smoke was discovered around 8:45 p.m., Lingenfelter said.

"We thank the Neligh Volunteer Fire Department for responding to the school so quickly and for helping to determine the cause of the smoke," Lingenfelter said. "We also thank Mike Seier for coming down to the school immediately as well."

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