A bird strike on one of the main power lines feeding into Lehighton Area High School set off a chain of events Sunday night leading to an overheated generator motor and emergency response.

The incident, according to building and grounds director Justin Smith, began around 8 p.m. and triggered multiple building alarms.

“By the time I got there, members of the fire department and two of our support staff were already on site,” Smith said. “When they unlocked the school’s doors, they were met with a rush of smoke and steam. The investigation revealed that a bird strike had damaged one of the three main feeder lines, leading to a power disruption.”

The school’s generator, Smith said, activated as designed to provide backup power. However, the generator’s water pump failed during operation, causing the belts to burn up and the engine to overheat. This malfunction resulted in an antifreeze overflow.

“Albarell Electric began disassembling the generator to assess the extent of the damage. Preliminary evaluations suggest that the generator may be beyond repair,” Smith said.

Additionally, the bird strike affected the school’s cooling tower, knocking out its controls. A crew worked to restore the cooling tower’s function, though further repairs are needed to fully stabilize the system.

“Within 15 minutes of the incident, four administrators and a representative from the IT department were on-site, alongside additional support staff,” Smith said. “Their quick actions ensured that students were safely transferred to alternative locations, and critical logistics were managed efficiently.”

High school students scheduled to take final exams Monday morning did so at the middle school.

Smith said Albarell would further examine the generator to determine the full extent of the damage.

“We hope to be able to file an insurance claim to cover the costs of the incident, pending the outcome of the assessment,” Smith said. “Seeing our team come together so quickly and effectively was very impressive. The level of coordination and support we received in such a short time was remarkable.