Fire in Restroom Clears Out Pleasantdale Elementary
Janitors helped put out the fire, but school evacuated by first-floor smoke.
A garbage can fire in a West Orange elementary school restroom resulted in the school having to be evacuated, West Orange fire officials said Thursday.
The fire, in the first-floor restroom of the Pleasantdale Elementary School on Pleasant Valley Way, started about 1:40 p.m., West Orange Fire Capt. Robert Dsurney said.
School janitors extinguished most of the fire with buckets of water and dragged the can outside before the fire department arrived, officials said.
However, since smoke filled the first floor, the school was evacuated for about 20 minutes while firefighters vented the building, Dsurney said.
West Orange police are investigating.
amy wall
3:57 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Great
Status Quo
4:18 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Indeed. Word is that a 10-year-old and 12-year-old (12yo in K-5?) were taken into custody and there's an arson investigation afoot. Additionally, across the street at WOHS an intoxicated student (in possession) was trasported to SBMC shortly after the fire thing. Exciting day!
Alex Sohn
7:04 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Arson!?! Really?!? The two kids were probably just in the restroom smoking a spliff and, in a panic, tossed it, lit, into the trash can, thinking they heard someone coming in. Hardly an intentional burning down the house.
amy wall
10:05 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Arson is harsh....but worth scaring them a little. My 5 year old said he was outside without a coat...i get it...hard to grab a coat when you're rushed out the door due to fire...but it was freezing today. I hate the thought of him being so cold...not sure what the answer is tho.
Cindy Reitberger
10:54 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
When someone intentionally lights something and throws into the garbage, that is arson. This was not the only time he played w/ the lighter as well as other dangerous items while in classroom with my child as well as others. This child is obviously lacking discipline and guidance where he should be getting it and I just hope he receives the counselling the he needs before he is allowed back into school.
Cindy R