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Nov. 5--BELLINGHAM -- A huge fire heavily damaged Whatcom Middle School overnight, canceling classes and leaving the school's future in doubt.

A neighbor of the school at F and Girard streets called 911 shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, after seeing fire on the roof. By the time firefighters arrived about 1:15 a.m., the flames were racing across the roof. Within 15 minutes the fire had worked its way across two-thirds of the roof, Bellingham Fire Chief Bill Boyd said.

The three-alarm fire burned for hours before firefighters had most of it out by about 7 a.m. A huge column of smoke could be seen for blocks, and the burning smell filled the Fountain, Columbia and downtown districts.

Police cordoned off several blocks around the fire, which was being battled by about 100 firefighters from across Whatcom County. D Street was flooded in areas from the water running off the school. Power also was out in the neighborhood around the school.

As of 7 a.m. the fire had been limited to the roof and top floor of the school, which has two floors and a daylight basement. At least part of the roof had collapsed, and sections were continuing to cave in.

Firefighters were trying to prevent the blaze from getting to the wood classroom floors and the new maple gym floor. Boyd said he believed they had saved the gym, but the extent of damage won't be known until after sunrise. He called the fire in the historic neighborhood school "a community disaster."

Increasing winds from an incoming storm helped spread the fire. Authorities were patrolling nearby areas to ensure burning debris did not set nearby homes on fire.

Many of the school's windows had been broken out from the fire. Police fired bean bags into others to break them and provide ventilation.

Shortly after arriving at the scene, firefighters entered the school and were able to do an initial search for people inside but were forced to withdraw when the situation was determined unsafe, Boyd said. It was not known if anyone was still inside the school, but firefighters didn't expect anyone was there.

Boyd said the cause was not immediately known, though the fire appeared to have started on the side of the school closest to down-town, the D Street side.

The school had been undergoing a seismic retrofit since last school year. Bellingham Police Lt. Rick Sucee said workers were seen welding on the roof as late as 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Whatcom Middle School was first constructed in 1903, making it the oldest existing school building in the district and one of the oldest in the state.

The school's 600 students and staff should not come to school Thursday or Friday. They do not need to report to the district, said district spokeswoman Tanya Rowe, who was at the scene. All other Bellingham School District schools will be in session Thursday.

District officials will be meeting about 9 a.m. Thursday to discuss the next steps. Whatcom Middle School will not be open for classes any time soon, Rowe said.

Students and staff should check www.bsd501.org, the district's news Web site, for updates on where students will be sent, Rowe said.

The Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross was at the scene helping feed the fire crews, who were rotating shifts.

This is the second major fire at a Bellingham middle school in recent years. Kulshan Middle School was gutted by fire in July 1993, just before the new school was set to open. An investigation revealed a faulty electrical connection between a soda machine and an extension cord sparked the fire, which destroyed more than half of the $8.6 million school.

And on New Year's Eve 1935, the then Fairhaven High School, where Fairhaven Middle School now stands, burned down.

Reach Kira Millage Cox at kira.cox@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2266. Visit her School Days blog at TheBelling-hamHerald.com/blogs.