Hurley Hall Fire Resources
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, a fire broke out in Hurley Hall dormitory at Cheshire Academy. All students were safely evacuated and are accounted for, and the fire department successfully contained the fire. Emergency protocols were activated immediately, and there are no injuries reported among students or first responders. We are grateful to first responders, as well as our faculty and staff, for your swift actions.
Updates:
This Week's Academic Schedule & IB Exam Update
May 6, 2025 – 3:36 p.m. ET
In the wake of this morning’s fire, we are keen to have students and faculty return to class as soon as possible. Routines are good, and the end of the school year is approaching quickly.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 7, classes will resume as normal at 9:10 a.m. The schedule will proceed as normal through G-Block and H-Block. A-Block will end 20 minutes early, at 12:10 p.m., and the entire community will gather for an all-school meeting in the Dining Commons prior to lunch at 12:15 p.m..
As for IB exams, the IB granted us a 24-hour delay for the IB History HL Paper 3 exam and the IB Mandarin ab initio Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams that were scheduled for today, Wednesday, May 6.
The IB History HL Paper 3 exam will now take place at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, Thursday, May, on court 2 on court 2 in the Field House.
The IB Mandarin ab initio Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams will be added to the other Mandarin Paper 2 exam tomorrow, Thursday, May 7. They will take place now in the afternoon, starting at 1 p.m. They will be held in Woodbury Hall as planned.
________________________________________
For the rest of this year’s IB exams, all IB exams that were scheduled to take place in the fencing room will take place on court 2 in the Field House. Students who are in separate settings for extended time or other accommodations should check for messages from Ms. Przybyla-Baum for any updates or changes to their schedules or locations.
If you have any questions about your/your student’s IB exams, please reach out directly to Ms. Przybyla-Baum or directly to Marc Aronson.
Official Statement: Hurley Hall Fire at Cheshire Academy
May 6, 2025 – 6:47 a.m. ET
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, a fire broke out in Hurley Hall dormitory at Cheshire Academy. All students were safely evacuated and accounted for, and the fire department successfully contained the fire. There are no injuries reported among students or first responders.
Emergency protocols were activated immediately. Hurley residents have been temporarily relocated to the JJ White auditorium and Gideon Welles Dining Commons, and counseling services are available for affected students. A dedicated phone line for family inquiries has been established at 203-439-7234. All classes and IB exams are canceled for today. Further information, including the class schedule for the remainder of the week, will be shared later today, May 6.
We are working with fire officials and authorities to determine the cause and assess damage. A housing plan for displaced students is being developed, and we will provide updates via our emergency notification system, email, and website.
We ask everyone to avoid the Hurley Hall area and direct all media inquiries to Sarah Fabrizi, Director of Marketing and Communications.
Thank you for your cooperation during this challenging time.
Key Contacts
General inquiries can call 203-439-7234. Please see below for other appropriate contacts.
Resources
Town of Cheshire Youth & Family Counseling
UWill
Ways to Help
Thank you for the outpouring of support from our community and peer schools. As we assess the situation, we will reach out with specific areas of need.
See FAQ BelowFAQs
Yes. All students, faculty, and staff have been safely evacuated and accounted for. Emergency services responded immediately and ensured everyone’s safety.
The Cheshire Academy Campus is currently closed. Plans for return to campus will be shared as they develop.
Official updates will be sent via email, posted on the Cheshire Academy website and social channels, and shared through the school’s emergency alert system.
Students can utilize our on-campus Counseling and Wellness Center, Uwill teletherapy services, or the Town of Cheshire Youth & Family Counseling.
Campus and the building is closed while authorities complete their investigation, after which there will be an opportunity for designated faculty and staff to retrieve items for students. We will share information as it becomes available.
All classes and extracurriculars have been canceled for 05/06. We will share information as it becomes available. A decision on classes for 05/07 will be decided in the afternoon of 05/06.
Our dining hall is fully open and staffed. Meals will still be provided to the campus community.
Please direct general inquiries to 203-439-7234. Please see key contacts for more information.
As we assess the situation, we will reach out with specific areas of need.
