This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A fire that started as a small blaze in a classroom roared through Wasatch Junior High School on Monday, engulfing the building in flames and billowing smoke as 200 firefighters vainly battled for hours to contain the blaze.
Although a handful of students were in a portable classroom working math problems, only five staffers were inside the two-story building. They escaped unharmed, but a couple of firefighters suffered heat exhaustion and were taken to the hospital for observation.
Principal Doug Bingham said that after the alarm sounded, he found a computer server afire about 12:30 p.m. Using an extinguisher, he tried to snuff out the flames.
"It didn't have enough juice," he said.
Bingham immediately called 911 and evacuated the building.
The flames spread quickly to the attic of the school at 3750 S. 3100 East, in the Holladay area. Built in 1959, the building is not equipped with a sprinkler system or fire stops in its attic, said Gaylord Scott, United Fire Authority spokesman.
By 2 p.m., orange flames roared through windows and roof vents. Onlookers lined the streets and watched as thick, black columns of smoke bulged from the roof, and pieces of charred debris rained down like confetti.
Scott estimated the building was at least a 60 percent loss.
A half-dozen homes to the east and north of the school were evacuated because of heat and smoke. Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies were called in to direct traffic.
Firefighters took positions in several towers and hosed down the inferno from above, using about 15,000 gallons of water per minute.
Down below, a woman rolled up her jeans and waded in a stream of water flowing alongside the street, while a golden retriever lapped water spewing from a nearby fire hydrant.
Principal Bingham stood across the street, water misting his forearms, and watched as firefighters broke out windows.
"We all have years and time invested in a building where relationships happen," he said. "It's a very sad occasion. It's a great place."
About 3 p.m., part of the roof collapsed, making a sound like thunder. Across the street, a couple sat in their porch rockers and casually took in the pandemonium.
Nearby, Karlee Weston and her two children, Kyle Kramer and Chelsee Weston, filled white plastic cups of water, set them on top of a trash can and handed them to thirsty firefighters as they walked by.
"I saw the smoke first and thought, 'Oh, my God, my kids burned down our house,' " said Karlee Weston, who was a student at the school in 1982. Her 11-year-old son was to begin seventh grade there this fall.
"It's kind of sad," he said. "I wanted to be able to go here with my friends."
Karlee Weston said it was difficult to watch as the fire consumed the building.
"It's very emotional," she said. "When I saw it, it was like, 'Oh, my God, that's the library.' It's kind of sad, kind of surreal. This can't be happening."
Kierstin Johnson, 11, wrapped her arms around her mother's waist and cried. Her parents, Jess and Lisa Johnson, moved to Holladay so she could attend this school, which they say has a good reputation.
"Now if they split [the students] up, her best friends will go to a different school," her mother said.
About 850 children attend Wasatch Junior High. Students and teachers are on summer vacation until August.
Granite officials are scheduled to meet today to discuss where to house students when classes begin anew.
"We're going to have to wait, make some assessments and go from there," said Granite School District spokeswoman Michele Bartmess.
"This is one of those nightmares that a superintendent hopes they never have to go through," said Stephen Ronnenkamp, Granite School District superintendent. "You know it's a brick and mortar facility. But it's a school."
Ronnenkamp was unable to say what the dollar amount of the damage might be, but "it doesn't look good from this vantage point," he said.
"It's devastating. We'll have to look and see what kind of coverage we have."
As they battled the blaze, fire officials repeatedly complained about a lack of water.
Wasatch Junior High School is just blocks from a large chunk of Millcreek Township, where Salt Lake County officials plan to create a special improvement district to fund a $14 million upgrade to improve fire protection.
In Millcreek, labyrinthine 4-inch pipe would be replaced with 90,000 feet of 8- and 12-inch sections along with 350 new hydrants.
Don Berry, Unified Fire Authority chief, says replacing the antiquated pipes is expected to provide the amount of water required by fire code.
Scott said the school fire highlights the needs for such improvements.
"There's never enough [water]," he said. "The only way you fight big fires is with big water."
---
Tribune reporters Derek Jensen and Michael Cronin contributed to this story.