Loyola Fire Alarm Triggers 'Elevated' Response Due To Anniversary

WILMETTE, IL — Faulty wiring and school shooting anniversaries combined to cause an evacuation of Loyola Academy and briefly keep students inside at New Trier High School's Northfield campus, according to police and school officials.

Wilmette police said an officer had been assigned to the school due to Thursday's anniversary of shootings in Parkland, Florida and at Northern Illinois University.

At 9:48 a.m., a fire alarm went off at Loyola Academy's campus at 1100 Laramie Ave., triggering an evacuation of the high school for about 25 minutes.

"Due to the anniversary and the fire alarm activation, there was an elevated emergency response to the school," Wilmette Police Deputy Chief Patrick Collins said in a release. It did not immediately appear the alarm had been intentionally activated.

New Trier school officials said administrators implemented "soft lockdown," briefly preventing students from going outside "out of the utmost caution" due to nearby police and fire activity.

Classes at New Trier's freshman campus were not interrupted during precautionary safety measures. At 10:24 a.m., New Trier announced the all clear had been given after police "cleared the area of any active threat" and confirmed the safety of the campus.

The Wilmette Fire Department confirmed that the alarm was triggered by a faulty wire in the electrical system at Loyola's campus, according to a message from Loyola Principal Charles Heintz.

Heintz said Wilmette police had planned to have an increased presence at all area schools on account of the date and would remain on campus throughout.

On Feb. 14, 2008, more than 20 people were shot, 6 fatally, during a class at NIU's DeKalb campus by a graduate student who killed himself at the scene. On Feb. 14, 2018, a former student shot and killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The first anniversary of the massacre led to increased security at many schools, as well as walk-outs and memorials at others.

"Certainly we are aware and pay attention to significant dates and events," said Niki Dizon, communications director at New Trier.

The Loyola principal thanked students, faculty staff for their cooperation and the Wilmette police and fire departments for their quick and professional response to the evacuation.

"Please be assured that our procedures today were effective," Heinz told parents.