Wildwood High School Fire Quickly Contained

An early morning fire at Wildwood High School was quickly contained Tuesday thanks to the rapid response of local fire crews, preventing significant damage to the building.

According to fire officials, just before 5:00 am emergency dispatchers alerted Squad Company 3 (A Platoon) and North Wildwood Fire Department Ladder Company 2 to an activated fire alarm at the high school. Crews arrived within minutes and began investigating the source of the alarm inside the building.

Squad 3’s officer, Captain Feltwell, located smoke and fire conditions inside a third-floor classroom, where an HVAC unit had ignited. Recognizing the potential for fire spread through ventilation systems and classroom contents, firefighters immediately upgraded the incident to a first alarm assignment, bringing additional resources to the scene as a precaution.

Firefighters quickly stretched hose lines and initiated suppression operations inside the affected classroom. Officials said the fire was brought under control within a short period of time and successfully contained to the room of origin. Crews then conducted overhaul operations to ensure no hidden fire remained within the HVAC system or surrounding building materials.

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Authorities credited the building’s fire alarm system and the swift actions of the first arriving companies for limiting the extent of damage. By identifying the fire early and rapidly applying water, firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading beyond the classroom or impacting other areas of the school.

No injuries were reported among firefighters or school personnel, and the incident occurred before students and staff arrived for the day.

Following suppression efforts, crews ventilated the affected area and coordinated with school officials regarding cleanup and safety measures. Damage appears to be limited primarily to the HVAC unit and classroom contents, though a full assessment will be conducted as part of the investigation.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office in coordination with the Wildwood Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit. Investigators will examine the HVAC equipment and surrounding electrical components to determine the origin and circumstances that led to the ignition.

Officials emphasized that the incident highlights the importance of working fire alarm systems and rapid emergency response in protecting public facilities.

Thank you to our amazing first responders for their hard work on the island!