Search on for arsonist who set school on fire
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. - Someone set fire to an empty school on Tuesday night, sending flames into the classrooms and up to the roof, fire officials said.
Several parents had been watching their kids' football practice at a nearby field when they spotted trouble at Lakewood Elementary School at 17000 16th Drive NE just before 7 p.m. Two women who were also walking around the school track saw the flames and smoke and sprung into action.
"(We saw) black smoke and parents yelling. And we just took off toward the school," said Dawn Taylor.
"Somebody came back with a fire extinguisher from their house or their car, one of the gentlemen did. We used that to break the first window and we continued breaking every window where we knew there were fire extinguishers in the building," said Tracy Melton.
Firefighters soon arrived and helped extinguish the flames. The blaze got the best of a pair of classrooms and a part of the roof, but firefighters said blasts from the fire extinguishers kept the flames from spreading.
"The captain on scene said he felt they (the parents) were a huge help in this fire and it could have been much worse," said fire spokesperson Stephanie Price.
Much of the building, however, suffered smoke damage.
One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
An arson investigator said someone pushed flammable material against the outside wall of the school and set it on fire. Flames then moved into the classrooms, leaving at least $150,000 in damages.
District officials will examine the structure to see what can be repaired before classes resume.
Investigators are now searching for clues that will lead them to the firebug.
"Couple of the moms said they did see some kids on bikes in the area. We haven't been able to confirm that," Price said.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call (800) 55-ARSON.
Several parents had been watching their kids' football practice at a nearby field when they spotted trouble at Lakewood Elementary School at 17000 16th Drive NE just before 7 p.m. Two women who were also walking around the school track saw the flames and smoke and sprung into action.
"(We saw) black smoke and parents yelling. And we just took off toward the school," said Dawn Taylor.
"Somebody came back with a fire extinguisher from their house or their car, one of the gentlemen did. We used that to break the first window and we continued breaking every window where we knew there were fire extinguishers in the building," said Tracy Melton.
Firefighters soon arrived and helped extinguish the flames. The blaze got the best of a pair of classrooms and a part of the roof, but firefighters said blasts from the fire extinguishers kept the flames from spreading.
"The captain on scene said he felt they (the parents) were a huge help in this fire and it could have been much worse," said fire spokesperson Stephanie Price.
Much of the building, however, suffered smoke damage.
One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
An arson investigator said someone pushed flammable material against the outside wall of the school and set it on fire. Flames then moved into the classrooms, leaving at least $150,000 in damages.
District officials will examine the structure to see what can be repaired before classes resume.
Investigators are now searching for clues that will lead them to the firebug.
"Couple of the moms said they did see some kids on bikes in the area. We haven't been able to confirm that," Price said.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call (800) 55-ARSON.