NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Fire Department says welders accidentally started a fire at a former school building in Algiers.
The fire broke out at about 3:38 p.m. on Monday at the former Henderson Elementary School and most recently Hope Academy in the 1900 block of L.B. Landry Blvd.
According to the property owner, the building was being renovated into affordable housing units. Welding contractors on site notified the owner that they had accidentally set fire to the structure while attempting to cut steel beams in the ceiling according to NOFD.
Firefighters had to force entry through multiple doors and windows to both extinguish the fire and search for persons possibly trapped inside. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the fire.
