Restroom Fire at Gwyneth Ham Elementary School
Date:
11/10/2008Summary:
At approximately 12:20 pm this afternoon a fire was reported in a restroom at Gwyneth Ham Elementary School, 840 E. 22nd St. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived to find that the school had been evacuated and the fire out.Contact:
At approximately 12:20 pm this afternoon a fire was reported in a restroom at Gwyneth Ham Elementary School, 840 E. 22nd St. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived to find that the school had been evacuated and the fire out. A trash container had been on fire in the restroom. It was removed from the building by a staff member and the fire was put out with a fire extinguisher prior to YFD’s arrival. Firefighters used ventilation fans to remove smoke from the building. There were no injuries and students were able to return to classrooms within an hour.
There was no apparent damage to the building caused by the fire. The plastic trash container was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire was being investigated by both Fire and Police investigators.
When alarms sounded at the school, teachers and students quickly evacuated the building. Fire drills are conducted on a monthly basis and incidents like this show how effective those practice fire drills are when preparing for real emergencies. However, lessons learned from fire drills at school don’t automatically prepare children for emergency situations like this at home. Fire officials remind parents and students to practice fire drills at home too.
Information about practicing Exit Drills In The Home (E.D.I.T.H.) can be found at your neighborhood fire station or by contacting the Yuma Fire Department’s Public Information and Education Office at 373-4855.
