Students were evacuated safely at 10:45 Monday morning after a fire in a second floor bathroom, according to Prince George's County Fire/EMS spokesman Mark Brady.
Bowie High School Principal Jane Spence said she became aware of the situation when the fire alarm went off right after second period.
Spence credited firefighters for their prompt response and professionalism.
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"It seemed like mere seconds before they arrived," Spence said.
The fire was contained to a trash can in the bathroom, according to Brady. Seven fire department units responded to the scene. Firefighters removed smoke from an adjacent hallway.
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Spence said students and school staff handled the situation well, exiting the building before firefighters arrived on the scene.
"We practice fire drills so much," she said. "It really paid off in this instance,"
Students were permitted to re-enter the building a short time later.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Brady. No one was injured.
*Edited to add comments by Bowie High School principal Spence.
