Fire shuts down Calhoun High briefly

A wastebasket fire at Calhoun High School in North Merrick forced a brief evacuation of the building at about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The fire “produced some smoke that went into the hallway, and the kids were evacuated," said Michele Gagnon, a district spokeswoman.

North Merrick Fire Department volunteers and investigators from the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the fire, whose origin is unknown, according to Gagnon.

Gagnon said that the fire department deemed the building safe for reentry after a brief period, and classes resumed. Additionally, Gagnon said, parents were notified of the incident via email or voice message. "The safety of the students is the primary concern,” Gagnon said.