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Sprinklers douse South Fayette High School theater before musical's opening night in 'freak accident'

Sprinkler goes off in South Fayette High School theater
Sprinkler goes off in South Fayette High School theater 01:44

SOUTH FAYETTE, Pa. (KDKA) - South Fayette High School students switched to virtual learning on Friday after water from the sprinkler system doused the stage in the school's theater. 

Just 24 hours before South Fayette High School's opening night of the musical "Crazy for You," water started pouring down onto the set and stage while students were rehearsing on Thursday night.

Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department and multiple other departments responded to a fire alarm at the school's theater around 7 p.m., but there was no sign of a fire. 

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Bill Supan said what they found was very unusual. He said a cable on the stage somehow snagged a sprinkler head in a freak accident.

"They were practicing for the play, so they were moving the curtains and the props up and down -- one of the cables had caught the sprinkler head and then snapped the sprinkler head and activated the sprinkler system," said Chief Supan.

He said people in the theater started to notice a burning smell.

"All that water and the hot lights naturally created the smell and scared people," Chief Supan said.

He said roughly 20 people were there and everyone evacuated the building safely.

South Fayette High School students switched to virtual learning on a two-hour delay for Friday.

Meanwhile, crews are working in the theater and assessing what to do about the water.

"A freak accident yes, I mean one in a thousand that that could have happened. But everything's OK, they're just up there cleaning up water damage on the stage and underneath the stage," said Chief Supan.

The district said the show will still go on, but Friday's performance will be postponed. Now there will be a show at 7 p.m. on Saturday and two on Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In an update to families, the district said the sets, props, costumes and instruments weren't damaged. 

South Fayette Township School District informed families about the incident. A spokesperson said crews were in the school checking everything. They said in-person learning continues for other schools in the district.

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