Fire at Willard Elementary School Closes Classroom

 

[Editor’s note: This story originally incorrectly stated the fire-damaged room was a science classroom. In fact, it was not, it was a general classroom. A science classroom is being used to house the class displaced by the fire. “The school’s science room is now being used as interim classroom space until damages are repaired,” a PUSD official said.]

An air-conditioning unit mounted on the roof of a building at Pasadena’s Willard Elementary School at 301 Del Mar Blvd. caught fire this morning, prompting the Pasadena Fire Department to rush three fire engines and 22 firefighters to the school.

The department’s swift response prevented potentially extensive fire damage and ensured classes at the school continued today, a Pasadena Unified official said.

Battalion Chief David Watson reported the department got an emergency call before 6:30 a.m. about smoke and fire showing from the roof of the building.

The first unit arrived on scene at 6:35 a.m. and found the fire was confined to the air-conditioning unit on the roof. The flames were quickly knocked down.

Firefighters inspected the building and checked for any fire extending down into the classroom, but found none. The firefighters moved important materials in the building to prevent water damage.

Battalion Chief Watson reported the fire was contained by 6:46 a.m., about 11 minutes after the first unit’s arrival. Watson said damage to structure is estimated at $15,000, and to contents, about $4,000.

Investigators found the most probable cause of the fire was the air-conditioning unit on the roof that could have malfunctioned.

No one was injured in the fire.

Mercy Santoro, Associate Superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District, said water damage prevented classes from continuing in the affected classroom, so administrators had to move the class into another building.

“It was a minor event that impacted one classroom and it did occur before the actual start of the school day. Classes all continued as normal except for the classroom that was impacted,” Santoro said.

Santoro also assured parents of Willard School students that the safety of the children is always a priority, and thanked Pasadena Fire for quickly sending in firefighters and equipment.

“We thank the Pasadena Fire Department for their swift response as it ensures that minimal damage occurs and that we could reduce any kind of impact to our students so that we are to offer classes today uninterrupted,” Santoro added.

One of the three fire engines that assisted in the response was from the Alhambra Fire Department.

Pasadena Fire also committed two ladder trucks and one rescue ambulance to the incident, and the Pasadena Police Department sent a team to help primarily with traffic control.