For kids used to routine fire drills, the ringing of the Der Kinderhuis Montessori School fire alarm did not cause them much panic. It did, however, send several of the school’s teachers into a tizzy.

At 1:43 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, Amber Trujillo, one of the teachers, saw a firecracker shoot from nearby apartments and land on the school’s front lawn.

In seconds the grass began to smoke, and Trujillo ran into the school for help.

Kari Sanders, Der Kinderhuis co-owner and director, said teachers sounded the school’s fire alarm and had all the kids out the doors and in the playground in approximately 40 seconds.

A few minutes after the fire started, co-owner Tami Murray and Trujillo put the grass fire out with the school’s garden hose.

Moments later, an Oak Harbor fire engine arrived and carried out follow-up care and precautions.

The only evidence of the school’s scare is a patch of burnt grass on the front lawn, Sanders said.

She said after the firefighters looked the area over, teachers and students re-entered the school and carried on with their day and parents received calls to update them on the recent situation.

“It was a good teaching tool for why we have fire drills and fire safety,” Sanders said.