New Bedford school looking for public’s help after early morning fire causes extensive damage

A South Coast school is trying to pick up the pieces after a Monday morning fire caused quite a bit of damage.

At approximately 2:00 a.m., a fire broke out at Nazarene Christian Academy, 754 Hathaway Road in New Bedford.

According to the school, the fire took place in the smaller but beloved building on the campus—the Collis Building—home to the Pre-school, Pre-K and Kindergarten students.

The school states that no one was injured and that the fire was contained, but the damage is extensive.

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, , there are several significant losses and costs that insurance will not cover. These include:

-Restoration of teaching materials and classroom equipment

-Repair of structural and electrical components not fully covered

-Replacement of furniture, student resources, and supplies

-Temporary classroom solutions to keep students learning without disruption

The school issued the following statement:

Dear Parents, Staff, and Friends, 

As many of you may have seen on the news, a fire occurred overnight in our smaller building, lovingly known as the Collis Building. While the damage is significant, we are incredibly grateful to God for His protection–no one was injured, and the fire happened while the building was empty. 

We want to reassure you that camp and school operations are continuing without missing a beat. School will begin for all grades at the previously designated times. Drop–off and pick–up will now take place at the main building, and our regular schedule remains in place. We’ve already made great progress this morning on alternative plans and are moving forward with confidence and faith. 

Church services will also continue as scheduled. 

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with support, prayers, and encouragement. We will share more soon about how you can come alongside us as we rebuild. 

We trust fully that God is at work, and we rest in the truth that “all things work together for good to those who love Him.” 

With gratitude, 

The Pastoral Staff of First Church of the Nazarene 

Nazarene Christian Academy Administration