Firefighters battled a blaze for nearly two hours early Wednesday morning at Neely-O’Brien Elementary School in Kent.
Puget Sound Fire responded at about 2:32 a.m. to an automatic fire alarm at the school, 6300 S. 236th St., according to a Puget Sound Fire news release. As they gained entry to the school property the first arriving engine company found smoke and flames from the roof of the building and upgraded to a full commercial fire response bringing additional resources.
The first arriving engine gained access to the roof and quickly knocked down a fire in the area around a heating and ventilation unit on the roof and began the process of checking for extension into the roof structure. Additional arriving crews entered the building and found smoke in the gym and multipurpose rooms.
Due to the size of the structure and the potential for a fire in the attic or void space, a second alarm was called bringing resources from Tukwila Fire, South King Fire and Rescue and Renton Regional Fire Authority.
While most of the fire was knocked down, it continued to smolder in the foam insulation between the ceiling of the gym and the metal roof above. Crews began the laborious task of cutting open the metal roof and extinguishing/removing the foam insulation. At the same time crews were able to extinguish any remaining fire from below.
Fourteen units were on scene for about an hour and 45 minutes until the fire was declared under control, according to Puget Sound Fire. Assistance was also provided by Kent Police, King County Medic One and Zone 3 Fire Rehab.
The incident commander cited the quick work of the first arriving engine knocking down the roof fire as a key to preventing this fire from becoming much worse. There were no injuries to firefighters. The building was empty at the time of the fire and Kent School District staff were on scene to assist the fire department throughout the morning.
While school was out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school district had made the elementary school available as a day care facility to support essential workers with school age children. The location supported 12 children and they were being assisted at another site.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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