Fire damages historic
private school

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An early-morning blaze Tuesday caused smoke damage at a historic southeast Albuquerque private school, and officials had to evacuate a choir sleeping in the school's gymnasium.

The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Immanuel Lutheran School on Gold Avenue near Arno Street SE. Firefighters rushed in and contained the blaze to several classrooms, controlling the fire in about half an hour.

About 48 members of a school choir visiting from Phoenix were sleeping in the school's gymnasium. They were evacuated safely.

"We all gathered and had a prayer that everybody got out safely, and the policemen have been pretty good to us and everything," said chaperone Norman Biar.

The group had been touring Colorado and New Mexico. They were scheduled to sing Tuesday morning at the school - their last stop before returning home.

As of 3 a.m. Tuesday, the group didn't have a place to stay, but said they would sleep on their bus if necessary.

The school is closed Tuesday morning as investigators look into what started the fire.