Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
(KSL News) More than 600 elementary students in West Valley City got the day off today thanks to a fire at their new school.
Classes were cancelled today at Gearld Wright Elementary School in West Valley due to elevated Carbon monoxide because of a fire at the school earlier this morning.
Custodians arriving at the school at 6760 W. 3100 South noticed smoke coming from a light fixture. They called the fire department, which responded with about 10 fire trucks.
There was only minimal damage to the outside of the building and to a mechanical room. The school just opened this year.
Crews are now airing out the school, blowing it out with fans. They had hoped to have it aired out for classes today, but carbon monoxide levels are just too high to open the school to students this morning.
Randy Ripplinger, Granite School District Spokesperson: "We thought we would clear the smoke and we would be fine. So we thought the school was going to open. Wisely, the firefighters took a measurement for Carbon monoxide, and found elevated levels of Carbon monoxide."
Teachers have told us this was the last thing they wanted to see when they got to school this morning.
Nina Curtis, School Secretary: "It's just amazing. We worked so hard to get the building up and running and opened on time. It's just interesting that we would have this happen so soon."
Carbon monoxide levels will be tested again this afternoon before a decision is made about tomorrow's classes.
