Ceiling Fire Closes Two West Bend High Schools

A fire broke out before the school day on Nov. 4 in the Nifty Nibble area of the shared West Bend East and West Bend West high school building, spreading into the ceiling and filling parts of the building with smoke. No students or staff were inside, and the building was closed while responders and specialists assess damage, test air quality and inspect mechanical and HVAC systems. The cause remains under investigation, and the district says it will reopen for in-person classes only when the building is deemed safe; virtual instruction may be necessary if it cannot reopen as planned.