The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996             TAG: 9601180456
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Briefs 
DATELINE: MACHIPONGO                         LENGTH: Short :   21 lines

FIRE ERUPTS IN SCHOOL

Fire blazed from a kiln in the art room at Northampton Middle School Wednesday, forcing the school to close at noon.

No one was hurt, and the fire was confined to the area around the kiln.

Dawn Goldstine, Northampton County school superintendent, said the school's 553 students were sent home because of the smoke.

Officials said classes will resume today.

KEYWORDS: FIRE by CNB