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A screen shot from a video shared on Winnsboro administrator Debbie May's social media page/ Courtesy Debbie May
Neighboring Hopkins lends helping hand
The Winnsboro community mourns the loss of the Winnsboro ISD building as most of the structure was razed in a fire late Sunday night.
At approximately 10:43 p.m. Hopkins County received a call to assist Winnsboro Fire Department with a ladder truck and additional personnel for a structure fire in the 200 block of East Pine Street.
Crews immediately shut down Pine, Walnut and Richards Streets, which were located just a few blocks north of downtown Winnsboro, according to Trails County Reporter on-scene. Hopkins County reported the blaze contained at 12:43 a.m.
A release from Winnsboro ISD stated they believed electrical problems caused the fire.
According to Winnsboro Mayor Camron Wilcox in a Facebook post made just after midnight on Monday, "the damage would be far worse,” if not for quick-thinking action of passers-by including local teens, school board members and administrators calling 911.
“Please pray for our WISD administration, as this already-crazy year just got a little crazier,” said WISD administrator Debbie May in a social media post. "Prayers that we can continue focusing not on what is lost, but on the great things our district brings to this community because of the people."
According to the WISD website, the building not only houses education administration but also Meal-A-Day and senior citizens programs. The building served as Winnsboro's original school before it was transitioned to the administration building, according to citizen comments on social media.