UPPER LAKE ? It wasn”t a drill when teachers ushered Upper Lake Elementary School students out of their classrooms Thursday afternoon.
Two female students allegedly ignited papers and threw them into a trash can in the girls” bathroom next to the gymnasium, according to Northshore Fire Protection District Chief Jim Robbins. Firefighters responded at approximately 12:30 p.m.
“One of the girls said they put water on them and thought they were out, but they weren”t,” Robbins said.
The flames burned the garbage can and spread quickly up the wall, which Robbins said was coated with a flammable substance that made them easy to wipe clean.
“It took off right away and fueled the fire,” Robbins said.
The fire extended into the attic and burned inside the wall, venting through the skylight, according to Robbins. A neighboring classroom took extensive smoke damage when the flames spread, according to Robbins. He said the classroom will remain closed until it can be cleaned.
Students were evacuated throughout the school, according to Robbins. He said a custodian used a garden hose to keep the flames down until fire personnel arrived. Robbins said it took firefighters 15 minutes to douse the flames, and another hour to open the walls to ensure the fire hadn”t spread inside the walls.
Robbins said the two girls were cited for arson. He estimated the damage between $80,000 and $100,000.
“The whole bathroom itself will have to be replaced, and some of the walls,” Robbins said.
Robbins continued, “I would like to give credit to administrators and the teachers, and to the teachers” aids for getting the children out and to a safe spot, and for having the gates open for the fire department. Everything they teach us during fire drills from when we”re young ? this is why we do that training. They did a fantastic job of getting out of there.”
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
