BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- A fire that erupted at Whatcom Middle School in Bellingham burned for hours and caused the roof and parts of the 106-year-old building to collapse Thursday morning.

"It's a community disaster," Bellingham Fire Chief Bill Boyd told KIRO 7 during extensive live coverage of the three-alarm fire.

SLIDESHOW: Middle School Goes Up In Flames
UNCUT: Chopper 7 Over Bellingham Fire
UNCUT: Fire Destroys Bellingham School

Bellingham police told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News that the first alarm was sounded at 1:06 a.m.

First arriving firefighters reported flames from more than half the structure's roof which eventually collapsed.

Video from Chopper 7 showed water streaming out the front door as firefighters sprayed the building for hours.

KIRO 7 reporter Rick Price learned that crews think they saved the gymnasium and auditorium.

Embers, whipped by the wind, threatened homes near the school and made fighting the fire more difficult.

KIRO 7 reporter Jeff Dubois reported that power was knocked out in the area for several hours.

Parents and students flocked to the scene Thursday morning after receiving a recorded message that there would be no school because of the fire.

"It's devastating. We were in shock when we got the call from the school," said Connie Streubel, a mother of a student.

By daybreak, you could see the roof and debris piled up inside.

Students and parents are now concerned about where the students will go the rest of the school year, and one teacher said the three other schools in the area are close to capacity.

"What we do with 200 kids per grade level is going to be a bit of a challenge," said Whatcom teacher James Walsh.

The School Board is holding an emergency meeting to go over all possible options to get students back to class somewhere as soon as possible.

Currently, school is canceled Thursday and Friday as the district tries to formulate a plan.

Parents and students can check for updates from the school district at: http://www.bsd501.org/

The three-story structure was undergoing a lengthy remodel.

Workers were seen on the roof of the school as late as 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

"They quit their hot work way early and kept their fire watch for a couple hours afterwards, so it sounds like everything was done as it should have been done. We'll see, though," said Roger Christensen with the Bellingham Fire Department.

Police said no injuries have been reported and that total damage cannot yet be assessed.