CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Immaculate Conception School recently held an open house for Clarksville Fire Rescue, businesses, organizations and donors as a thank you for those who helped the school recover after a fire at the school on Madison Street on Sept. 28, 2021.

No injuries were reported in the small fire. which investigators said occurred as prayers were being held in the chapel and some lighted candles were too close to nearby curtains. which were ignited by a breeze that blew in the window.

Immaculate Conception School on May 4, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Fire Rescue and members of the community inside the chapel of Immaculate Conception School during open house on May 4, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Chapel of Immaculate Conception School during open house on May 4, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Fire Rescue Firefighters and Immaculate Conception School staff inside the chapel during open house on May 4, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Fire Rescue firetruck outside Immaculate Conception School during open house on May 4, 2022. (Lee Erwin)

Thomas Ford, Clarksville Fire Rescue District 1 commander, said firefighters responded to the school and found smoke coming out of the front door with flames around a window area inside the chapel. Ford added the school was evacuated and the smoke was cleared from inside the building.

Ford talked about the thanks they received from the school. “We appreciate it, these guys work really hard for the public and the public appreciation is something we all look forward to having,” Ford said.

“Today we are thanking everybody that helped us at the time of the fire, as well as through the construction, and the donations, to get us back in the chapel again,” Principal of Immaculate Conception School Stephani Stafford said.