A fire at Pagosa Springs High School’s vocational education building last week has been determined to be arson, according to the Pagosa Springs Police Department Assistant Chief Brooks Brown.
Pagosa Fire Protection District (PFPD) Deputy Chief Karn Macht explained the incident was paged out as a fire alarm at 3:31 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
The first engine arrived at 3:46 p.m., he noted, and smoke was coming out of the roof.
He added the on-scene captain did a 360-degree look at the scene and saw smoke pushing from the west side of the structure, and the PFPD started an offensive attack.
Personnel located the fire in the kitchen area and knocked it down, he noted.
He noted the building was confirmed to be evacuated.
PFPD units cleared the scene at 5:49 p.m., according to Macht.
Macht explained Fire Marshal Kelly Robertson and Inspector Mikaela Boehmer immediately pulled in the police department.
Brooks indicated the fire began in a small closet pantry in the kitchen located in the school’s vocation building.
He indicated the investigation and the location led to the arson conclusion.
“It appeared to be intentionally set,” Brooks said.
Brooks noted there is a suspect in the case and that the case has been sent to the district attorney for review.
Macht reported that three engines, a ladder truck and three support vehicles were used, with nine paid staff members and 11 volunteers working the incident.
In a statement to The SUN, Archuleta School District Superintendent Rick Holt notes the district is “very grateful for the quick response” from the police department and emergency services.
“The routines, practices and procedures we have in place to respond to emergencies were effective in keeping all staff and students safe,” he wrote.
He adds the district is now in the process of “thoroughly cleaning up and repairing the limited damage so that we can get students back to learning valuable career and technical skills.”
randi@pagosasun.com
>