When troubles hit, an old remedy is to search for relieving humor.
Putting that practice to work, White Hall School Superintendent Dr. Larry Smith said Tuesday that in recent days he has felt a kinship to singer James Taylor.
“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain,” said Smith, managing a laugh while borrowing a line from Taylor’s hit song “Fire and Rain.” After pausing to seemingly take stock of his situation, Smith added, “And I’m tired of both.”
Smith was speaking of a Friday, July 23, fire and a flooding rain Monday, July 26, at the high school. Damages could have been extreme, but Smith said that wasn’t the primary consideration.
“I regret that we had any damages because of either the flooding or fire, but property is secondary to people,” he said. “No one was injured, and that’s what is most important.”
The fire erupted just before 1:15 p.m. in a second-floor construction area. Fire Chief Sandy Castleberry said sparks from welding apparently initiated the fire. Flames burned a layer of insulation and some debris and also damaged a few weight-bearing steel beams, some decking and several ceiling joints.
Six classrooms and a few offices and storage areas below sustained smoke and water damage. Carpeting on the first floor of the wing, which was constructed in 2006, absorbed water as it drained after being applied to the blaze.
When a torrential downpour occurred during a thunderstorm that started about 5:30 p.m. Monday, the water poured through the open, fire-damaged area.
“We had at least two inches of water collect on the first floor,” Smith said. “We had flooding in some classrooms, the media center and (Principal) Mr. (Bill) Mitchell’s office.”
Smith said a rain gauge near the school indicated four inches of rain fell during the storm. “I guess we could have had four inches of rain inside the building instead of just two,” said Smith. “But two inches are bad enough.”
An insurance assessor was on campus Tuesday, surveying the aftermath of both events. A total monetary estimate of damages was not available at press time.
The scene had to be preserved until the investigator completed his initial assessment, but workers were given a go-ahead to take steps in mitigating additional flooding a few hours before more rain fell Tuesday night.
“We’ve lost some computers and have some dry wall, carpet and tile damage inside,” said Smith. “We don’t need any more rain seeping inside.” The roof is slated to “come off” for replacement today (Wednesday).
Smith said the occurrences will delay construction efforts and hamper some classroom activities, but classes will begin as scheduled on Aug. 19.
Smith praised the work of White Hall, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Pine Bluff and Hardin fire fighters in containing and extinguishing the blaze. “If the fire had spread much, we could be looking at a major loss,” said Smith. “The fire fighters did a masterful job, and I want them to know they’re appreciated.”
White Hall Fire Chief Sandy Castleberry agreed that a “big loss” had been averted. “There was an opening inside one of the walls, and if the fire had reached that point, it probably would have been sucked much further into the school,” said Castleberry. “The smoke was thick and black when I arrived and I knew it might be bad.”
As he approached the scene, Castleberry called upon the arsenal fire department for support through a countywide mutual aid agreement. Later, Castleberry summoned Hardin fire fighters. “I would rather have too much help than not enough,” Castleberry said.
About 20-25 persons – including administrators, teachers and students – were inside the school when the fire began. Stephanie Musgrove and Brooke Wilson were having their senior pictures taken when Mitchell used an intercom to announce the fire and order evacuation.
“When we ran outside, the area was full of smoke” said Wilson, “and it was all black looking into the windows.”
White Hall Fire Fighter Ricky Smith said more damage was caused by water than by the fire. Smith said holes were drilled through the ceilings of the lower classrooms to allow water to drain.
Smith said workers did their best in trying to save classroom equipment and materials. “The crews came through and covered all the computers with tarps,” he said.
Castleberry said the fire fighters’ efforts provide “a good example of what teamwork can do.”
About 17 fire fighters responded. “It was hot enough with just the regular July temperatures, but you can multiply that several times with the heat of the fire and the heat kept inside the guys’ protective equipment,” said Castleberry.
“Research shows that the energy consumed in 15 minutes of fire fighting is equivalent of the energy people usually use in a regular eight-hour job.”
(Staff members Teresa Bennett and Jenni Williams contributed to this article.)
When troubles hit, an old remedy is to search for relieving humor.
Putting that practice to work, White Hall School Superintendent Dr. Larry Smith said Tuesday that in recent days he has felt a kinship to singer James Taylor.
“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain,” said Smith, managing a laugh while borrowing a line from Taylor’s hit song “Fire and Rain.” After pausing to seemingly take stock of his situation, Smith added, “And I’m tired of both.”
Smith was speaking of a Friday, July 23, fire and a flooding rain Monday, July 26, at the high school. Damages could have been extreme, but Smith said that wasn’t the primary consideration.
“I regret that we had any damages because of either the flooding or fire, but property is secondary to people,” he said. “No one was injured, and that’s what is most important.”
The fire erupted just before 1:15 p.m. in a second-floor construction area. Fire Chief Sandy Castleberry said sparks from welding apparently initiated the fire. Flames burned a layer of insulation and some debris and also damaged a few weight-bearing steel beams, some decking and several ceiling joints.
Six classrooms and a few offices and storage areas below sustained smoke and water damage. Carpeting on the first floor of the wing, which was constructed in 2006, absorbed water as it drained after being applied to the blaze.
When a torrential downpour occurred during a thunderstorm that started about 5:30 p.m. Monday, the water poured through the open, fire-damaged area.
“We had at least two inches of water collect on the first floor,” Smith said. “We had flooding in some classrooms, the media center and (Principal) Mr. (Bill) Mitchell’s office.”
Smith said a rain gauge near the school indicated four inches of rain fell during the storm. “I guess we could have had four inches of rain inside the building instead of just two,” said Smith. “But two inches are bad enough.”
An insurance assessor was on campus Tuesday, surveying the aftermath of both events. A total monetary estimate of damages was not available at press time.
The scene had to be preserved until the investigator completed his initial assessment, but workers were given a go-ahead to take steps in mitigating additional flooding a few hours before more rain fell Tuesday night.
“We’ve lost some computers and have some dry wall, carpet and tile damage inside,” said Smith. “We don’t need any more rain seeping inside.” The roof is slated to “come off” for replacement today (Wednesday).
Smith said the occurrences will delay construction efforts and hamper some classroom activities, but classes will begin as scheduled on Aug. 19.
Smith praised the work of White Hall, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Pine Bluff and Hardin fire fighters in containing and extinguishing the blaze. “If the fire had spread much, we could be looking at a major loss,” said Smith. “The fire fighters did a masterful job, and I want them to know they’re appreciated.”
White Hall Fire Chief Sandy Castleberry agreed that a “big loss” had been averted. “There was an opening inside one of the walls, and if the fire had reached that point, it probably would have been sucked much further into the school,” said Castleberry. “The smoke was thick and black when I arrived and I knew it might be bad.”
As he approached the scene, Castleberry called upon the arsenal fire department for support through a countywide mutual aid agreement. Later, Castleberry summoned Hardin fire fighters. “I would rather have too much help than not enough,” Castleberry said.
About 20-25 persons – including administrators, teachers and students – were inside the school when the fire began. Stephanie Musgrove and Brooke Wilson were having their senior pictures taken when Mitchell used an intercom to announce the fire and order evacuation.
“When we ran outside, the area was full of smoke” said Wilson, “and it was all black looking into the windows.”
White Hall Fire Fighter Ricky Smith said more damage was caused by water than by the fire. Smith said holes were drilled through the ceilings of the lower classrooms to allow water to drain.
Smith said workers did their best in trying to save classroom equipment and materials. “The crews came through and covered all the computers with tarps,” he said.
Castleberry said the fire fighters’ efforts provide “a good example of what teamwork can do.”
About 17 fire fighters responded. “It was hot enough with just the regular July temperatures, but you can multiply that several times with the heat of the fire and the heat kept inside the guys’ protective equipment,” said Castleberry.
“Research shows that the energy consumed in 15 minutes of fire fighting is equivalent of the energy people usually use in a regular eight-hour job.”
(Staff members Teresa Bennett and Jenni Williams contributed to this article.)
