Fire Breaks Out at MA School as FFs Deliver Extinguishers
By Jeanette DeForge
Source masslive.com
A fire heavily damaged the horticulture building at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Monday afternoon less than 24 hours after strong winds blew off part of the roof of a second academic building.
The school principal and superintendent confirmed there will be school on Tuesday despite the damage caused by the back-to-back catastrophes.
“It is strange. They are two totally separate incidents. They are not related by any means,” Superintendent Andrew Linkenhoker said.
The fire in E Building broke out minutes before dismissal. There were a handful of students milling about at the exit when it was discovered and some teachers were inside but there were no injuries, Likenhoker said.
The fire was discovered at 2:09 p.m. by firefighters who were visiting the school to deliver some fire extinguishers. While there they saw smoke and then fire coming from E Building, Fire Chief Jon Davine said.
One of the two classrooms in the building was destroyed and the other had heavy smoke and water damage. Mowers, tractors, leaf blowers and other equipment was also destroyed in the fire, Davine said.
“They saw the fire and were able to get right to work and that prevented a lot of damage,” he said, adding the crew also immediately called for backup.
The blaze was stubborn and took firefighters at least an hour to extinguish it. At 4:30 p.m. firefighters were still working at the building putting out “hot spots” that were rekindling. Firefighters are expected to remain at the school for much of the night conducting a fire watch, Davine said.
Hadley firefighters also assisted at the fire, he said.
He estimated the fire caused a minimum of $400,000 in damage and will close that building for the rest of the school year at a minimum.
Investigators from Northampton Fire and Police departments with the State Fire Marshal’s office are investigating the cause. Davine could not immediately speculate what sparked the fire.
Smith Vocational High staff were already dealing with having to relocate multiple students on Monday after high winds blew off part of the roof at Building D. That building, located to the right of the main entrance of the school, is blocked off with police tape and debris from the roof is covering the lawn outside it.
“Fortunately we have multiple buildings here,” Principal Joseph Bianca said.
Advanced machining, electrical, cabinetmaking, carpentry and some classrooms for subjects such as Spanish and art are located in Building D. Students and staff were displaced and classes were taught in the library, available classrooms and other open spaces on Monday, Bianca said.
The School Department immediately contacted its insurance company and received approval to make emergency repairs to the roof so Bianca said he is hoping students will be able to return to classrooms in Building D on Tuesday.
There are between 25 and 30 students in the horticulture program who will be displaced because of the fire in Building E. Bianca said he will again use the library, empty classrooms and other vacant space so classes can continue.
Seniors are also taking final exams this week and will be graduating June 7, which leaves even more space for the displaced program. The final day of school for Smith Vocational students is June 14, Linkenhoker said.
“I have to applaud our staff. They did save a good deal of the equipment so classes can continue for our horticulture students,” Linkenhoker said.
He said the timing of the fire was good since students were leaving. Dismissal at Smith Vocational is 2:12 p.m.
The only problem was other fire crews arriving to help fight the blaze had a more difficult time because of the typical traffic caused by dismissal, Davine and Linkenhoker said.
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