The Dell Rapids High School filled with smoke Wednesday morning (June 3rd), and fire crews were called to the building at around 9:30 a.m. Fire departments from Dell Rapids, Baltic, and Colton along with the Minnehaha County Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Department were called to the scene.
Firefighters were on the roof during the morning to investigate the cause of the smoke. Reports indicate that the smoke was mostly contained in the west/northwest part of the building. Crews were using fans to clear the smoke from the building.
Dell Rapids assistant fire chief Clarence Fjellanger mentioned that an air exchange unit’s burnt motor and wiring caused the smoke to fill the high school side of the building. The school building did not receive any fire or smoke damage. Superintendent Summer Schultz noted that only minimal damage to the air exchange unit was found.