The band room was damaged and other areas of the school suffered smoke damage during a fire at Bragg Middle School on Friday night. The fire was caused by a wall-mounted heater that malfunctioned, according to the fire marshal. School resumed at the school on Tuesday. Here you can see the proximity of the band instruments to the fire and the chemicals used to extinguish the blaze.

A malfunctioning heater in the band room at Bragg Middle School caused a small fire on Friday night.

Gardendale Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and extinguished the fire but the band room and surrounding areas suffered smoke damage.

Gardendale Fire Marshal Lt. Jason Murrell said the unit apparently malfunctioned and he saw no evidence of foul play or misuse. He said the wall-mounted heater had been recently serviced.

Murrell also said the school’s insurance company would conduct an investigation to determine exactly what caused the heater to malfunction.

A professional company was called in to clean up the smoke and fire residue and ready the school for students.

A decision was made to call off school for the students on Monday until the school was safe for students to return, due to the scope of the cleanup needed and the chemicals used.

School resumed normally on Tuesday.

Jefferson County Board of Education member Dean Taylor, who responded to the scene Friday night, said he was grateful for the firefighters and school staff.

“I appreciate the first responders, Bragg principal Brad Robertson and Gardendale High School principal Jeff Caufield for their quick response on Friday and for braving the winter weather to deal with the situation,” Taylor said. “I also appreciate Neal Underwood and the other county maintenance personnel for the extra hours they spent over the weekend and on Monday to ensure students could safely return to school on Tuesday.”