Fire at Whatcom County middle school disrupts food service
Classes were scheduled as usual but food service was disrupted Thursday, Feb. 9, after fire damaged the kitchen at Blaine Middle School.
No injuries were reported, Blaine schools Superintendent Christopher Granger said in a letter to students and staff on Wednesday evening, Feb. 8.
Flames apparently started in a microwave and sprinklers put the fire out, Granger said.
“Responders from North Whatcom Fire and Rescue determined there had been a small fire in a room off the cafeteria which was extinguished by the suppression system,” Granger said.
Fire was reported at 5:30 p.m at 975 H St., according to the emergency services app Pulse Point.
Granger said “a small number” of students and staff were in the building when the fire alarm sounded, and everyone left.
It was too early for a damage estimate, he said.
Smoke, fire and water damage was confined to a part of the building that has a separate ventilation system and the rest of the building was safe, Granger said.
“(Classes) will follow an adjusted schedule until the impacted areas can be utilized,” he said.
“Middle school students will be served grab-and-go breakfast outside the middle school cafeteria and lunch through the high school cafeteria on the adjusted schedule,” Granger said.
Blaine Middle School, with 455 students and 80 staff members, is on the east side of the city of 5,884 people, according to the 2020 census.
Its campus includes a high school, elementary school, primary school and Borderite Stadium.
Parents who have health concerns should call the school’s office, he said.
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 8:18 AM.
