Fire damages school, closes roads

3:50 p.m. Update: The District Department of Transportation reports that all lanes on Piney Branch have reopened.

2:50 p.m. Update: According to D.C. schools officials, the structure is so heavily damaged that students won't be able to return there in January. The children will be relocated to another school, and officials plan to hold a meeting with parents soon to discuss that.

There were 10 people in the building -- no students -- when the fire started, schools officials said. All of the people were evacuated without injury, they said. The school has 260 students from preschool through eighth grade.

12:55 p.m. Update: D.C. Fire / EMS officials report that the fire is out. However, operations will continue for an extended period due to the investigation and the need to move debris. Damage is heavy, they said.

Original post: A three-alarm fire at Takoma Educational Center in the 7000 block of Piney Branch Road NW has the street closed in both directions from Aspen to Delilah Dahlia Street. Cedar Street is closed from Piney Branch to Fifth Street and Highland is closed from Piney Branch to Georgia Avenue.