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The Harvest Park Middle School library sustained serious damage after a fire broke out in the building late Tuesday night, according to the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department.
The cause of the fire has not been confirmed and the incident remains under investigation, according to deputy fire chief Joe Testa.
The situation unfolded just after 10:35 p.m. Tuesday when firefighters received a report of a fire alarm going off at the middle school at 4900 Valley Ave., Testa said.
The school was closed and unoccupied when the initial LPFD unit arrived on scene and found a building on fire, according to Testa. The firefighters requested backup and worked to gain access to the Harvest Park campus.
They entered the campus and saw the library on fire at the center of the school, Testa said. They extended the fire hoses about 250 feet to reach the flames and were able to bring the fire under control by 11:01 p.m.
The fire damage was centralized to much of the attic and part of the roof, but most of the library’s contents sustained smoke and water damage, according to Testa. A damage cost estimate was not available as of early Wednesday morning.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by LPFD and Pleasanton Police Department officials. Harvest Park was closed and empty at the time of the fire, though school officials did arrive on scene, according to Testa.
“We are grateful for the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department’s swift response,” school district spokesman Patrick Gannon said Wednesday morning. “District office staff were on site last evening to collaborate with the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department. We have staff onsite today to assist in expediting the remediation and repair of the library.”
No injuries were reported during the fire.
Alameda County Fire Department personnel assisted LPFD firefighters in extinguishing the blaze.
Is it out of the question to suggest fire departments might be supplied with master keys to access school campuses in case of emergencies such as this? Does our city’s emergency response policy and protocol need to be updated?
While I can’t speak to what happened at HPMS specifically. The fire department does have master keys.
This is so sad! Will the library be fixed before school starts?
One of 2 things happened (cause of fire)
electrical short – or – Arson
I am betting on the 2nd.
The library is a standalone structure which is easily accessible from the school’s athletic field.
Some Jack “Arse” decided to do something really dumb, and now tax payers and students, will have to pay for it.
Recently footage was captured at another pleasanton school, in which teens decided to cause destruction as well.
Couple years back someone also torched the public restroom near Amador HS.
When they catch these criminals, they need to not only pay for damages, but should serve time as well.
The Contra Costa Times is reporting that the fire started due to an electrical issue with the air conditioning unit.
It is too bad that the PUSD’s schools such as Harvest Park are in such disrepair that a school building can get destroyed due to faulty wiring, old equipment, poorly maintained equipment, overloaded circuits, or other types of issues like that.
Meanwhile, rather than address issues in this city with these buildings, the district superintendent is making trips around the world. I heard he just got back from China. What exactly did he sign on behalf of PUSD in that ceremony in China all of the parents are talking about?
“One of 2 things happened (cause of fire)
electrical short – or – Arson
I am betting on the 2nd.”
Good thing nobody took you up on your bet.