THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220159
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CINDY CLAYTON AND KIA MORGAN ALLEN, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 72 lines
Between 300 and 400 students were evacuated from night classes Tuesday at Green Run High School when a two-alarm fire destroyed a science classroom, fire and school officials said.
It was the fourth fire at a city school this school year.
A 25-year-old school security guard who suffered smoke inhalation was taken to Virginia Beach General Hospital, Battalion Chief Chase Sargent said. No other injuries were reported, he said.
Firefighters received the call for the blaze at 6:54 p.m. after Lillian J. Donnally, Open Campus principal, pulled the fire alarm. The fire was under control within 10 minutes after firefighters arrived.
Donnally said she and other staffers in the office smelled a strange odor and began walking around the school to investigate. The Open Campus classes had just begun when the alarm sounded and students were evacuated.
Open Campus offers afternoon and evening classes to older students and adults who want to get a high school diploma. Donnally said about 500 students are enrolled in the program.
Open Campus began about seven years ago at Princess Anne High, but was moved at the beginning of the school year to Green Run after fire heavily damaged Princess Anne, Donnally said.
The Green Run blaze was under investigation Tuesday night, and no cause had been determined. Fire officials said they did not believe it was connected to a fire at Windsor Oaks Elementary May 12, an April 2 fire at First Colonial High or the Sept. 1 fire at Princess Anne.
``We have no evidence that indicates that any of the fires are related,'' Sargent said. ``We don't know that it's arson.''
The blaze, which was confined to the classroom at the rear of the building, caused moderate damage, burning the ceiling and the walls.
The bulk of the commotion occurred when the alarm sounded and students jumped from their seats to find the nearest exit.
``When the alarm went off we all started looking at each other and I thought we'd better get out,'' said senior Stephanie Adams, 18. ``We walked into the hallway and the hallway was black. It (the fire) was right next to our room.''
``When we opened the door, smoke just started billowing out and filled the whole room. Tim (a security guard) came running out, yelling and telling everybody to get out. It wasn't scary, but I just wanted to get out of the school,'' said Anthony Espinosa, 19.
Kayarnta Anderson, 17, was in a math class when the blaze began. ``We smelled burnt rubber and it was real hot. . . The fire alarm went off and they were like `Hurry up, leave out, leave out,' then we all left out,'' Anderson said.
Classes will be conducted as usual today, said Joe Lowenthal, school district spokesman. Lowenthal also said that it was fortunate the evening program was held at the high school because the fire was caught before it could spread. MEMO: Staff writers Larry W. Brown and Aleta Payne contributed to this
report. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
OTHER FIRES
Fires at Virginia Beach city schools this school year:
Sept. 1: Princess Anne High School, more than $7 million damage.
Arson is suspected.
April 2: First Colonial High School, minor damage to a locker
room. A break-in preceded the fire.
May 12: Windsor Oaks Elementary School, two portable classrooms
destroyed. Arson is suspected.
May 21: Green Run High School, moderate damage to classroom .
Cause unknown.
KEYWORDS: FIRES by CNB