For some students the fire drill has become just another useless interruption to their class time. However, the importance of the fire drill became more real than ever on Feb. 28.

At approximately 9:30 A.M. the reverberating noise of the fire alarm jolted the students into action. As they followed what seemed to be just another test of the school?s fire safety abilities, teachers were extinguishing a fire that had been set in the downstairs boys’ bathroom.

According to Jon Endicott, associate principal, this fire was no accident.

?The person that set this fire has no regards for the safety of their fellow students,? Endicott said. ?This could have been disastrous to the students and the building. The staff is seriously looking this matter.?

While the fire was promptly extinguished, the damage is noticeable. The fire, which started near the paper towel dispenser, quickly melted the plastic casing allowing the fire to crawl up the wall.

After such an event, the bathrooms were closed down for the rest of the day. The Peoples Church maintenance crew has been cleaning and repairing the damage to the bathroom, which is expected to be open sometime next week.

?Whenever the fire alarms go off we automatically assume that it is a drill,? Endicott said. ?This is a good reminder that the alarm is real. We give praise that all the sprinklers were working properly.?

After the ordeal school officials sent out a mass email to the parents of third through twelfth grade students explaining the incident.

Due to the sprinkler system, quick thinking of the teachers and the appropriate response from the students, a much larger catastrophe was likely avoided.

Maintenence crews are working to restore the restroom to its original appearance by March 5 and students should be able to use the facilities by March 6.

If anyone has any information about who started this fire, please contact Endicott at 299-1695, ex. 126. There is a reward for any information leading to the discovery of the instigator of this fire.