Dillon Valley Elementary School will be closed on Monday, May 20, due to a fire that occurred at the school early Saturday morning, May 18.

Summit School District Superintendent Tony Byrd stated in a letter released Saturday morning that the fire began “due to a pinched electrical cord” in the art room at Dillon Valley.

“We are incredibly grateful that no one was injured. However, the fire caused significant damage to the art room and water damage to several other rooms in the south wing of the school due to fire suppression efforts,” Byrd stated.

Summit School District communications director Kerstin Anderson said Saturday morning that a restoration crew is working to assess damage and begin the cleanup process at Dillon Valley Elementary School, running air quality tests and drying out the “dozen rooms” in the south wing of the school that sustained water damage due to fire suppression efforts.

Anderson said the fire started around 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning and confirmed that it was caused by a “pinched electrical cord.” The art room, she added, is “a loss,” and items stored on the floor in the south wing also have water damage due to fire suppression efforts.

“The work will continue across the weekend as we determine a return-to-school plan,” Anderson said.

The plan to close the school on Monday remains in place, and Anderson said the district is “working with partners” to verify the school is safe for students and staff in the process of determining the plan. 

“We’re committed to keeping the community informed as we get more information,” she said.

Parents with questions or concerns should contact Summit School District communications director Kerstin Anderson at Communication@Summit.org or 970-409-6988.