Over the weekend, a potential disaster was narrowly avoided at Portage Central High School thanks to its fire suppression system. According to reports from WOODTV, a fire broke out in the school's woodshop area last Saturday night. Responding crews from the Portage Department of Public Safety, supported by Texas Township and Life EMS, were greeted with smoke but minimal fire damage thanks to the suppression system swooping into action before it could spread.
The fire started around 10:40 p.m., which prompted firefighters to rush to the schools near South Westnedge Avenue and East Centre Avenue. In a statement obtained by MLive, officials reported the fire “had effectively kept the fire contained to a specific area, minimizing further damage.” The Portage Department of Public Safety officials have said that while the cause of the fire is still under investigation, it's not deemed suspicious at this time.
Due to the diligent efforts of the crews above, the blaze was kept under control. However, the aftermath still requires significant attention. WWMT reported that Portage Central High School will be closed today to facilitate clean-up efforts. In addition to drying out the area and attending to smoke damage, the school will replace sprinkler heads that were activated during the incident.
Providing more details on the aftermath, Portage Central High School Principal Eric Alburtus mentioned to WWMT that a golf cart appeared to be the cause of the fire. The closure announcement by the school's administration underscores the necessity for thorough clean-up and a secure environment for the staff and students upon their return.
