3-1-05 On Friday afternoon, February 25, 2005, an smoke was smelled in the science lab at Vasquez High School. No fire was found
On Saturday smoke from an electrical fire was visible in a package heating / air conditioning unit mounted on a sidewall on a modular building being used as the science lab. It was primarily a smoke and smoldering event, which caused sizable smoke damage in both the lab and classroom.
There was no panic and at no time were any children at risk. To make sure the fire had not entered the attic, a lot of the ceiling tile was pulled down.
The Facilities Committee added an emergency agenda item before the limited extent of the damage was known. Board member Max Duran inspected the damage and stated he felt “We need to remove the smoke smell out of the classroom, repair the damage to the wall, and replace the air conditioning unit.”
Package conditioning systems, which are standard on modulars tend to have a much higher failure rate and subsequent fire hazard than conventional heating and air conditioning systems. The modulars are not constructed to meet Class 4 Fire Resistant Standards that normal construction would meet.