July 24--A lightning strike sparked a fire at the Union Eighth Grade Center during a wave of storms that swept through the area overnight.
A 40-foot line of fire was running along the ridge of the roof when Tulsa firefighters arrived at the building, which is on the east side of Garnett Road north of 71st Street.
Tulsa Fire Capt. Tim Marcotte said officials are assuming the fire was caused by a lightning strike because the fire is mostly contained to the roof ridge vent.
The interior of building sustained some water damage and minimal smoke damage, Capt. Joe Youngblood said. Damage estimates have not been determined, he said.
Firefighters used ladder trucks to put water on the blaze from above to control the fire, and by about 1 a.m. they were using a fire-retardant foam to control flare-ups.
Charlie Bushyhead, Union's assistant superintendent for support services, was among a group of seven to eight administrators who gathered outside the school for firefighters to finish their job so they could assess the damage.
"Fortunately, the damage appears to be contained to the large hallway just off the main entrance," Union superintendent Kirt Hartzler said. "In the initial walk through, the structure seems to sound. We will not know the full extent of the damage to the building and equipment until we complete a thorough."
The portion that was affected by the fire was the addition that opened in 2006, he said. It contains classrooms, main offices and computer labs. The library wasn't involved, Bushyhead said.
The Eighth Grade Center has about 1,150 students, and Bushyhead said the school will be ready for them when the fall semester starts Aug. 19.
He expects the repairs to involve mostly roof replacement and some water damage.
Neighborhood resident Chris Hosseini stood watching as firefighters extinguished the blaze at nearly 1 a.m.
He said he learned of the fire when he saw smoke pouring from the school.
"Lightning has been hitting all around here," he said.
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