Update On Fire Incident At Carapichaima West Secondary School

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The Ministry of Education is providing an update regarding a fire incident on Monday afternoon (23rd March, 2026) at Carapichaima West Secondary School.

In a Media Release today (Tuesday 24th March, 2026), the Ministry said smoke was detected at approximately 1:50 PM in a room located on the top floor of the Form 5 building block. “The school's emergency response protocols were immediately activated, and by 1:55 PM, all staff and students were safely evacuated to the designated muster point. The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) was contacted immediately, and responded promptly.”

At the time of the incident, forty-two (42) teachers and one hundred and three (103) students were present on the compound. No injuries or casualties were reported, and ambulance services remained on standby throughout the incident.

The Ministry is advising that Form 5 students had successfully completed their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mock examinations prior to the incident. While the school was originally scheduled to close on Friday (27th March, 2026) for the end of the academic term, the institution has been closed with immediate effect from Monday (23rd March, 2026) as a precautionary measure.

The Ministry said its relevant divisions, including the Education Facilities Planning and Procurement Division, and the Health, Safety, and Security Unit, is actively collaborating with the TTFS, and the National Maintenance Training and Security Company (MTS) to conduct comprehensive assessments and undertake all necessary remedial works.



(Click/Tap Images To Enlarge)

These efforts are aimed at facilitating the safe reopening of the school for the commencement of Academic Term III on 13th April, 2026.

Dr. the Honourable Michael Dowlath, Minister of Education, emphasised, “The safety and wellbeing of our students remain our highest priority, and we want to assure parents and guardians that Student Support Services Division remain available to all who may need assistance during this time.”

Investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing and are being conducted in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the TTFS.

The Ministry said it will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.

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