Crews working to repair San Rafael elementary school after fire

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KGO) -- Some parents and staff in San Rafael are concerned about whether work to repair a fire-ravaged elementary school will be completed in time for classes this month.

School officials said it's too soon to tell if the four affected classrooms at Dixie Elementary School will be ready for the first day of class on August 24.

RELATED: Students, parents saddened by fire at Dixie Elementary in San Rafael

The fire chief said the roof was getting replaced and extra rolls of tar paper could be to blame for the fire that broke out Monday.

Crews got the fire under control quickly, but most of the damage was centered on the roof.

Construction workers wasted no time ripping out the charred roof on Tuesday morning.

"It was my classroom...it was our building that was on fire," Dixie Elementary School teacher Mimi Reddick said.

Reddick's classroom was full of materials for her new kindergarten class. "It puts things into perspective, it's just stuff, but there was a lot of stuff," she said.

"We got a wild knock on the door from some kids and they said their school's on fire and I didn't believe them at first, but I looked into their eyes and I knew they were telling the truth, so I got in my car and drove down," Dixie School Board member Marnie Glickman said.

By the time Glickman arrived, firefighters had everything under control.

The superintendent surveyed the damage on Tuesday. "It looks like there's no structural damage and the construction company and their team is working extremely hard to get it back up to speed as quickly as possible," Dixie Elementary School superintendent Jason Yamashiro said.

The superintendent anticipates the classrooms will be ready by the start of school on August 24. "I believe in our community, I believe we can get it done, I'll have a timeline from the construction company, I have a meeting with them this afternoon," Yamashiro said.