School fire

[GhostRider73]

Fire Damages Okmulgee County School

NewsOn6.com

BEGGS, OK -- Fire heavily damaged a rural Okmulgee County school district's building Friday morning.

It happened at the Twin Hills School near Beggs.

Fire units from Okmulgee, Beggs and Twin Hills responded to fight the fire.

Twin Hills is an independent school district with students in grades kindergarten through eighth.

A parent told The News On 6 that there were no students inside because they had the day off as part of the district's spring break.

The parent said the school does not have a traditional week-long spring break. Instead, students are off five consecutive Fridays, including today.

No injuries have been reported.

Video from SKYNEWS 6 showed firefighters putting water on the building's roof and through some of the windows.

The video also showed heavy smoke coming from the central portion of the building, and lesser amounts coming from each end.

Investigators say the building appears to be a total loss. The cause of the fire hasn't been determined but officials say it appears to have started in the principal's office.


This school is about 30 miles South of Tulsa. With the fire starting in the principals office, my first thought is arson by a student, but time will tell.

Matt

[Bones42]

my first thought is arson by a student

Interesting. My first thought was "No smoke detectors? No sprinklers? No alarm system?"

[GTRider245]

Interesting. My first thought was "No smoke detectors? No sprinklers? No alarm system?"

As was mine. Also, school holiday, so student would have had to B&E as well. No security alarm?

[GhostRider73]

Watching this evenings news, there were flare ups occurring after 5:00 this evening. This building was built in the 1930's. At least seven different departments responded. They had trouble getting to the fire as the building was built with a flat tar roof, with a pitched metal roof added later. Due to there only being one hydrant, fed by a 6 inch line, there was a large tanker (tender) shuttle being run. No one was in the building when smokle and fire were discovered by arriving workers.
As for no alarm, all I can figure is that since the school is 15 miles from anything resembling a city, I guess they thought it wasn't necessary.
The state fire marshal has been called out to investigate the source of the fire. I'll let you know what they say is the cause

[Bones42]

As for no alarm, all I can figure is that since the school is 15 miles from anything resembling a city, I guess they thought it wasn't necessary.

and that seems to me as even MORE reason to have a monitored alarm system.

Good Luck to them. It sounds like they will be facing a long, tough road ahead.

[Dickey]

I thought it was a requirement for schools to have an alarm system and if they had over X amount square footage, they had to have a sprinkler system. I know WI requires that, I will check for sure.

Origin in the principals office? And while the school was unoccupied? Sure, red flag. However, most people who work in an office have space heaters too. I can't believe we haven't had more fires because of stupid people cranking these space heaters under their desks to keep their feet warm.

Can you imagine if this happened while school was in session? Just glad to hear no one was hurt, public or FF.

[LVFD301]

The school in Mounds OK, just north of there a few miles burned back in October of 2007

[madden01]

This does smell of arson. But you never know. My middle school caught on fire from a overloaded outlet once. I remember when we learned the school was on fire a bunch of us kids rode our bikes up to see it. We were ecstatic thinking we would have no school for a month. (we didn't miss a day of school) Anyway I thank god no one was hurt and school wasnt in session when the fire occurred.

[GhostRider73]

This fire was ruled accidental. It was started by faulty wiring. I'm glad to see my first thought was wrong.

Matt