UPDATE: At 12:30 p.m. staff and students were given the all clear to return to the main building at Columneetza following a fire at the cafeteria.
No word at this time the cause of the fire.
Williams Lake fire chief Evan Dean said at approximately 10:45 a.m. an officer page came in for a commercial fire alarm, shortly afterward the page was upgraded to a group page for a confirmed structure fire at Columneetza.
“Upon arrival, command officers confirmed all occupants were out of the building and smoke was visible from the cafeteria area,” Deansaid. “In total 24 fire fighters responded to the call, with three apparatus and two command vehicles attending the scene. “
Dean said positive pressure ventilation was utilized to limit the spread of smoke and contain the fire.
Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire and ventilated the space to remove smoke.
He said no injuries were reported and as the building is separate, students were later allowed into the main school.
“The cafeteria area will be secured and an investigation into the cause will be taking place,” he said.
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Students and staff have been evacuated from Columneezta middle school in Williams Lake Monday morning, May 15 due to a fire.
In an email to parents, the district noted the fire originated at the cafeteria building.
“The fire department is on site and has contained the fire to that site. We are awaiting word for the all clear to return to the main building,” notes the email.
“Please do not try to pick up students at this time, as it makes access and movement of fire and school persons more difficult. If, for some reason, students are not able to return to the main campus, we will notify parents and caregivers of the transportation plan.”
More to come
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