Puyallup school hasn’t reopened after fire last month. Where do repairs stand?
Students at Ferrucci Junior High School in Puyallup haven’t returned to the building after a fire that damaged the school April 4.
The fire was discovered in an electrical room on the main floor of the school’s new classroom wing, in an area that contained lead-acid batteries. The fire caused extensive damage across multiple areas of the school, according to a report from the Puyallup School District’s Operations department that was provided to the school board at their May 8 study session.
The school’s building and grounds remained closed for the rest of the school year due to the fire damage and environmental contamination. A Central Pierce Fire & Rescue spokesperson said “it is more probable than not that the cause was a failure in the emergency power battery backup system.”
There is not a final cost yet for repair and restoration, district spokesperson Sarah Gillispie said via email.
“We are currently in the investigation and preparation phase, working with independent experts and specialists to assess the full extent of damage, evaluate environmental conditions, and determine the steps necessary to safely prepare the building for future student use,” Gillispie said.
She said the cost estimates will continue to be refined as additional information becomes available.
“The district is also reviewing available reimbursement and funding processes related to insurance and state resources while evaluating impacts to capital project planning and cash flow,” she said.
“Due to the volume of smoke in the commons and extensive fire and water damage throughout the building, we are unable to safely contain impacted areas and reopen any portion of the school. In addition, we must secure proper permitting before re-entry is allowed for staff or students,” the district said in an April 14 news release.
Since April 20, ninth graders have been attending classes at Glacier View Junior High School and Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup. They will continue there through the last day of school on June 18.
Gillispie said seventh and eighth graders returned to in-person learning on May 4 at the old Naches Trail Elementary School building in Frederickson. The facility is part of the Bethel School District on Waller Road East. The district said in a May 1 news release that teams worked with the Bethel School District to prepare the site for students.
There is no set date for when students can return to the Ferrucci campus, and the district cannot say if they will return in time for the start of the new school year.
“At this time, the district is continuing to assess the extent of repairs, cleaning requirements, testing results, and any permitting considerations associated with the building,” Gillispie said.
She said the district anticipates providing a more definitive update and next-step plan during the June 1 school board meeting. Staff and families will also get additional communication before the end of this school year.
How restoration efforts are looking
A timeline provided to the board at the May 8 meeting shows where work is underway, and the different phases the school must go through before restoration can move forward.
The school is undergoing a cleanup phase to prevent further damage and to preserve the building’s structural integrity. This includes removing damaged materials, securing impacted areas and taking steps to stabilize the site, Brady Martin, executive director of Capital Projects, Maintenance and Facilities, said during the May 8 meeting. The cleanup phase also includes determining whether contamination is present in the building.
The next phases include:
- Construction and restoration
- Inspections, to ensure all systems are safe and fully operational before reopening
- Occupancy, which will begin when the building is ready for students and staff. The facility must be confirmed to be safe and functional.
Families can track updates through the district’s restoration webpage.
