Charlotte Preparatory campus closed after 3-alarm fire causes $2.5 million in damage

An estimated $2.5 million in damage was done by a three-alarm fire that erupted late Monday, June 26, on the campus of Charlotte Preparatory School on Boyce Road, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.

The site’s Lower School was destroyed, with video showing the roof collapsed and walls crumbled.

Investigators are attempting to pinpoint a cause, and are using drones and a K-9 team to inspect the debris, officials said.

No one was injured, Head of School Chris Marblo wrote in a Facebook post.

“The damage to the lower school building is extensive, but as of now we see no significant damage to other buildings,” Marblo said.

“The loss of a building and its many memories is heartbreaking. But we will rebuild and will do so in ways that make our campus even better. And we will soon create new memories.”

All summer camps and campus activities have been canceled for the week. “Do not come to campus until further notice,” school officials said.

The fire was reported around 9:50 p.m. Monday, school officials said. It was brought under control in about 90 minutes, the fire department reports.

More than 60 firefighters responded, and Marblo says the swift action by police and firefighters prevented the fire from spreading.

“We have already been in touch with our insurance broker and are starting the process to clean up campus and, eventually, rebuild,” he said.

“It is our intention to have temporary lower school classrooms and offices by the start of the school year, and we will work diligently to achieve this goal. As we know more about this process we will, of course, keep you informed.”

The school’s crisis team has been activated, he said.

Charlotte Prep is top-ranked school with more than 400 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Classes for the 2022-2023 school year ended May 26.

This story was originally published June 27, 2023 at 6:17 AM.