HOPE — Firefighters from Hope, Union and Rockport were called to a possible structure fire at Hope Elementary School Friday morning, and while there was an issue with the school’s boiler, school was able to start on time.

Hope Fire Chief Clarence Keller was first on scene and saw no obvious signs of a fire, so he staged mutual aid fire departments on Buzzell Hill Road, while his firefighters investigated what was causing the smell of smoke in the halls of the school.

He said the school has a large commercial boiler furnace, and it was discovered that the clean out cover had come loose. Firefighters were called to the scene just after 6 a.m.

“It came loose, opened and fell down off the boiler, so it was allowing the flames from the fire box to come out against the access panel that surrounds the whole unit,” said Keller.

He said that the access panel is filled with insulation, and while it is non-combustible, the heat eventually burned it up, then the metal around the unit became discolored from the heat and it made enough smoke that it could be smelled inside the school.

“With the cover off, there was also the chance of carbon monoxide in the school, but we ran the monitors and found none inside,” said Keller. “So we aired out the school to get rid of the smell.”

He said they were able to deal with problem and clear the scene in about an hour.

And despite the early morning excitement for Hope’s 10 firefighters that responded, along with the firefighters from the two mutual aid towns, Keller said school was able to open as normal and most students were none the wiser.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com