FAYETTEVILLE, Ala. – Lay Lake Fire and Rescue units abruptly broke away from the Sylacauga Christmas Parade on Thursday night, Dec. 4 after being dispatched to a reported fire at Fayetteville High School’s gymnasium.
According to officials, Tahoe 2191 and Pumper/Tanker 2151 were participating in the parade when the call came in at 6:30 p.m.
Lay Lake and Fayetteville firefighters arrived within 10 minutes to find an active fire inside the gym’s HVAC unit, which was sending smoke into the building. Talladega County Board of Education staff safely evacuated attendees from an event underway at the time.
Crews quickly extinguished the fire and worked to ventilate the gym. The blaze was contained to the HVAC unit, and smoke damage was limited to the gymnasium, with no impact to the main school.
Alabama Power cleared the scene at 8:30 p.m., and all units returned to service.
Officials thanked Lay Lake and Fayetteville First Responders as well as the Talladega County Sheriff’s Office, County Line Fire and Rescue, and the Sylacauga Ambulance Service for their assistance.
