Racine firefighters humbled by letters from Mitchell students

RACINE (WITI) -- Their school may have been destroyed by fire, but their spirit is strong. At a time of major change in their lives, Mitchell School students took time to say 'thank you' to the firefighters that battled the flames at their school in the bitter cold.

Fire ripped through Mitchell Elementary School's gym on Thursday morning, February 27th — causing the roof to collapse. Other parts of the school were damaged by smoke and water.

Demolition began on damaged areas of Mitchell School on Wednesday, March 12th.

Mitchell Middle School students will return to Mitchell on Monday, March 17th. Then, crews will begin work on the elementary side of the school. Those students won’t return until next year. They’re finishing the rest of their school year at Wind Point Elementary School.

Despite the fact that their lives have been turned upside down by the fire, Mitchell students have taken the time to write letters to the firefighters who risked their lives to knock down the flames on the morning of February 27th.

"The firefighters that had been on scene had one heck of a fight on their hands. We typically don't seek a lot of fanfare for the work we do, but when the kids take time to say thanks it's really pretty cool,"

Firefighters say upon reading the letters, they're immediately humbled.

"I was actually moved by all of them. They had time in their day to actually write us thank you notes. We're doing our job and that's our pleasure to do that for them,"

The letters include pictures illustrating what that brisk Thursday morning must have felt like for the firefighters, and also include thank yous for the donated school supplies.

Racine firefighters hosted a school supply drive after the fire to benefit Mitchell students.

Racine firefighters say the letters matter, and the thought counts.

"You guys are strong and you'll be good,"

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