Photo is Courtesy of the Georgetown Fire Department on 10/25

More than 600 Milford students face an uncertain return after Sunday’s three-alarm fire, while investigators work to determine the cause and the district develops a longer-term education plan.

MILFORD — The fallout from a major fire at Lulu M. Ross Elementary School expanded Monday, with classes canceled for the entire week, neighboring Mispillion Elementary temporarily affected and election officials moving a polling place ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

The developments come one day after a three-alarm fire heavily damaged portions of Lulu Ross, a Milford School District elementary school serving more than 600 students.

Students at Lulu Ross will have no in-person or remote instruction from Monday, Oct. 26, through Friday, Oct. 30, while district officials assess the building and determine how and where instruction can resume.

The Milford School District has not yet announced whether students will eventually return to portions of the building, be temporarily relocated to other facilities or use another arrangement.

The uncertainty represents one of the most significant immediate challenges facing the district following the fire.

Fire began in Kent wing

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office said investigators determined the fire originated in the Kent wing of the school.

The cause remains under investigation, but officials said they have found no evidence at this point that criminal activity was involved.

Firefighters were dispatched shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday after an automatic fire alarm activated at the school on Lovers Lane.

When crews arrived, fire was coming through the roof.

Firefighters initially attempted to attack the fire from inside the building, but deteriorating conditions forced crews to evacuate and shift their response. The blaze eventually grew to three alarms, bringing firefighters and equipment from departments throughout the area.

It took crews about three hours to bring the fire under control.

No students or employees were inside the school when the fire started, and no injuries were reported.

The fire caused extensive damage to the Kent wing and spread into central portions of the school, including the front lobby, administrative offices and library. Classrooms in the Kent and New Castle hallways were also heavily damaged.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has not released a damage estimate.

Fire crews returned to Lulu Ross Monday morning, according to Carlisle Fire Company response records, as investigators and emergency personnel continued work at the property.

Neighboring school also affected

The fire also disrupted operations at nearby Mispillion Elementary School, which shares the campus area and infrastructure with Lulu Ross.

Mispillion was closed Monday because the fire damaged fiber-optic infrastructure serving the schools, leaving the building without working internet and telephone service.

District officials said operating without those communication systems presented a safety concern.

State agencies and repair crews were working to restore the service.

The district initially announced the Mispillion closure for Monday only. Other Milford School District schools were operating on their normal schedules.

Polling place moved

The effects of the fire will also reach beyond the school district.

The Delaware Department of Elections announced Monday that voters in Sussex County Election District 36-01 who normally vote at Lulu Ross will instead vote at Mispillion Elementary School for the Nov. 3 general election.

Mispillion Elementary is located at 311 Lovers Lane in Milford, adjacent to the Lulu Ross campus.

The Department of Elections said notification letters were mailed to voters affected by the change.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Early voting is already underway and continues through Sunday, Nov. 1.

Focus turns to students

Beyond the physical damage, district leaders now face the challenge of determining how to continue educating hundreds of elementary students if Lulu Ross cannot reopen quickly.

The school enrolled 614 students during the 2025-26 school year, according to Delaware Department of Education enrollment figures.

The district’s crisis response team has been working on both short-term and longer-term plans for students and employees.

District officials are also coordinating with state agencies to provide resources for families and staff members affected by the fire and its aftermath.

Community organizations and school systems around Delaware have begun offering assistance.

For parents, however, the immediate question remains what happens after Friday.

District officials have not yet announced plans for the week beginning Nov. 2 or provided a timetable for determining how much of Lulu Ross can eventually be returned to service.

Officials are asking members of the public to stay away from the Lulu Ross property while investigators, emergency crews and district personnel continue their work.

The fire investigation remains active, and additional announcements are expected as the district evaluates the condition of the school and develops a plan for returning Lulu Ross students to instruction.

TO GO BOX:  Lulu M. Ross Elementary School fire

• What happened: A three-alarm fire heavily damaged Lulu Ross Elementary School early Sunday, Oct. 25.
• School closure: Lulu Ross students will have no in-person or remote classes through Friday, Oct. 30.
• Students affected: More than 600.
• Cause: Under investigation by the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office. Investigators have reported no evidence of criminal activity at this time.
• Mispillion Elementary: Closed Monday because fire damage interrupted internet and telephone service. Families should monitor Milford School District updates for additional schedule information.
• Election change: Sussex County Election District 36-01 voters will vote Nov. 3 at Mispillion Elementary School, 311 Lovers Lane, Milford, instead of Lulu Ross.
• Where to follow updates: Milford School District, Delaware Department of Elections and Delaware LIVE/Milford LIVE.

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