The Berkeley Fire Department was called out to Berkeley High School this morning at around 10am after someone set fire to a bulletin board.
BFD Assistant Chief Sabina Imrie said when firefighters arrived at the school they found a bulletin board on fire in the Administrative Building. “This was a small fire that self-extinguished once the papers burned. However, this small fire did generate enough heat to activate one sprinkler head. It is still unknown who or how this fire was started,” she said. Imrie added that the damage caused was minor.
In an email to the BHS community, Principal Scuderi reported that the campus was evacuated when the school’s fire alarm sounded. “We were able to resume classes after a brief delay,” he wrote. “There was obviously a considerable amount of water on the floor and this forced the closures of a few areas in the D building that will likely remain closed throughout the afternoon. Our students were patient and helpful throughout the incident and they deserve a compliment for the way their collective cooperation kept the evacuation steady and safe for all involved.”
There is a history of fires caused by arson at the high school. There were eight incidents in a single week in 1999 and several others in 2000.
