Arsonist sought after school fire

By MATT JOHNSON

Record editor

A small fire that filled a second-floor restroom with smoke Wednesday morning forced an evacuation of South Whidbey High School and has both school administration and law enforcement looking for an arsonist.

At about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday, Fire District 3 firefighters were called to assist with the fire, which started in a toilet paper dispenser. Mike Johnson, the school’s principal, said Thursday that an initial investigation indicates someone lit the toilet paper roll on fire, then allowed the fire to spread to the plastic dispenser and a plastic stall divider.

The smoky blaze triggered the school’s sprinkler system and forced school officials to evacuate students. Johnson said he investigated the fire immediately, but was unable to tell whether the sprinkler system had doused the fire due to thick smoke. He quuickly called in firefighters.

“The restroom was totally engulfed in black smoke,” he said.

As it turns out, the sprinklers did their job, but the water dumped on the fire and in other areas of the school caused some minor flooding and water damage. Johnson said the water ran down stairs and pooled in the bottom of the school’s elevator shaft.

Maintenance and janitorial personnel, with the help of several high-school-age firefighters, began a cleanup as soon as it was determined that the fire was extinguished. Squeegees used to clear water off school tennis courts were brought inside to push the water out of the school.

“It cleaned up pretty well,” Johnson said.

In all, smoke, fire and water damage was estimated at about $3,000. Destroyed in the fire were two stall dividers, the toilet paper dispenser and a number of ceiling tiles.

Johnson said the sheriff’s office is investigating the incident as a case of arson. The agency has no suspect sat this time.

No one was injured in the incident. Class was interrupted for about 25 minutes while firefighters investigated the fire, Johnson said.

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