A Warm Welcome: Bren Mar Park Elementary Thanks Firefighters for Protecting Their School On Sunday, April 19, the last thing Bren Mar Park Elementary School expected was to look up at the sky and see a pillar of black smoke billowing from their school. Thanks to the quick response from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, Bren Mar Park reopened the next day. One month later, staff and students gathered in a cheerful display of gratitude. The school community, including hundreds of students, teachers, the PTA, and school faculty, lined the sidewalks, cheering as two Fairfax County firetrucks and an ambulance pulled up for the event. The heroes were greeted with shouts of praise and waving hands as the crowd welcomed them. When asked what they were going to shout when the firefighters arrived, the students loudly said, “Thank you!” Many of the students had made signs with drawings and kind messages to the firefighters. Every class had put in effort to show their heroes how much they appreciated their service. “They saved our school!” the students said. In April, firefighters contained the fire to the area where it started — on the roof of an addition to the school, currently under construction. Principal Elizabeth Williams shared how students and staff “barely saw evidence of all the events that Sunday evening.” “I think that really speaks to the efforts that you put forth. You turned a two-alarm fire site back into a place of learning in less than 24 hours,” she said. Principal Williams also thanked the custodians and FCPS Facilities team for their efforts in ensuring the school was ready to reopen the next day. Student Government Association President Mason Soukphouangkham spoke on behalf of the student body. “Without [the firefighters], our school would not be here. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for all the things that you have done for our school.” Even after the speeches were done, the fun was not over. As the students returned to their classes, they lined up and gave each firefighter a high five or fist bump. This was an impactful event for both the students and the faculty: People do not often get to thank first responders unless they know them personally, yet on that day, an entire school was able to thank their heroes for their bravery. Watch coverage of the ceremony from Fox 5: