A fire alarm was triggered at the Jean Pierre Welter building of the Junglinster primary school around 9am on Wednesday morning, after a paper dispenser caught fire in a second-floor toilet.
All pupils were safely evacuated and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. According to Mayor Ben Ries, the main challenge was not the fire itself, but the widespread smoke damage. He explained that authorities are still assessing which areas and materials were affected by the smoke.
The Health Directorate has instructed the school to dispose of all items with fabric coverings – including clothing, backpacks, and any fabric-covered chairs – that were exposed to the smoke, as these items cannot be reliably decontaminated.
This decision, requiring students' backpacks, clothes, and other materials to be thrown away, has understandably upset many parents. The Ministry of Health confirmed to RTL that certain items exposed to the smoke – such as shoes, boxes, carpets, various paper, or cardboard objects, in addition to school bags and clothing – have micro-porous surfaces that can absorb soot and chemical residues, making full decontamination impossible.
"Even after thorough cleaning or washing, these contaminants cannot be safely removed", the Ministry explained. Soot from a fire like this contains not only carbon particles but also a complex mix of chemicals created by burning materials such as plastics, paints, and solvents. For children, the health risks are considered too high. By contrast, devices such as phones, laptops, tablets, or glasses can be properly cleaned and decontaminated following specific procedures.
Regarding the building itself, Mayor Ries described the damage as "limited", but still significant in the affected toilet and immediately above it. The ceiling above the burnt paper dispenser has also been impacted and will need to be opened up for repairs. "We are dealing with damage that we can keep under control, but it will still take time to fully restore the area", Ries said.
With the summer holidays approaching, Mayor Ries remains optimistic that all clean-up and repair work will be completed before the new school year starts. From next Monday, at least 10 out of 19 classrooms on the ground floor should be accessible again, although there is a caveat: the school's ventilation system will remain off until it has been thoroughly inspected.
In the meantime, rooms will need to be ventilated manually by opening windows and doors, as mechanical ventilation is currently disabled. Before classrooms can be reopened, extensive cleaning and disinfection must be completed on the ground floor.
As there was no technical fault and no construction work in the affected area, arson is suspected. Police have launched an investigation, and Ries confirmed that the authorities have already spoken to several individuals, although he did not say if any suspects have been identified.
Responsibility for the resulting damage remains unclear, pending further investigation by insurance experts. Mayor Ries expressed hope that the matter could be resolved relatively quickly.
The fire has also disrupted school operations, as some classrooms remain inaccessible. Lessons are being temporarily relocated, including to the neighbouring Maison Relais childcare centre, which made its facilities available.
Véronique Colling, head of the Maison Relais, told RTL that while the morning was initially hectic and many children were collected by their parents, the staff worked together to adapt and the situation ultimately stabilised.
Colling also praised the pupils for their cooperation, although she acknowledged that some children were more affected by the incident than others. During a visit, one student expressed his disappointment at having to throw away his sticker album for the football World Cup due to smoke contamination.
