Former Milford high school burns

MILFORD – One day before voters were set to decide whether to tear it down, the 77-year-old Garden Street School has been gutted by a fire.

The school, one block south of the Oval in the center of town, burned overnight. One fire fighter was slightly injured when the roof of the three-story building collapsed, and three others were treated and released The cause is still under investigation, with officials from the state fire marshal’s office on the scene.

The fire was first reported right before 1 a.m., and flames shot dozens of feet into the air over the three-story building. Fire departments from several surrounding towns were called to help battle the blaze.

Portions of Elm Street, which is Route 101A, were closed for much of the night. Traffic remained snarled Monday morning as several roads, including Union Street, were blocked by fire trucks.

Garden Street School, once the town’s high school, has been largely closed for two years. Its only students are about two dozen teens who have difficulty in traditional classrooms.

Residents will vote Tuesday on whether to tear down the building and replace it with a police station.