Seattle Fire Department crews were dispatched to Franklin High School on Friday afternoon following reports of a fire, confirmed Seattle's KOMO News. The emergency call, which came in after 1 p.m., led to the discovery of a rubbish fire in a second-floor bathroom. Although the fire was subdued promptly and no injuries were reported, the incident caused enough disruption to lead to an early dismissal of students at 1:45 p.m.
Given the nature of the fire, investigators are now actively trying to piece together whether the incident was a deliberate act. The fire's containment was swift, due to the school's quick evacuation of students and the fire department’s efficient response. "Our mobile ventilation unit. They have a giant fan, and they were able to ventilate the building to help remove the carbon monoxide buildup and the smoke," Seattle Fire Department spokesman David Cuerpo told MyNorthwest.
The school, which enrolls more than 1,000 students, saw some smoke spread throughout its premises, leading to the deployment of a mobile ventilation unit to manage the air quality. "It is an old school with an old ventilation system," said Cuerpo in the same interview. Officials, including Franklin High School's Chief of Staff Bev Redmond, acted to assure parents that their children were safe and informed families about the incident and subsequent dismissal in statements obtained by KOMO News.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities reportedly checking the school’s surveillance cameras to identify possible suspects. The official communication strategy involved the principal committing to stay in contact with the school community "as more information is available," Redmond said to KOMO News. Efforts to reach Franklin High and Seattle Public Schools for comment have not yet yielded a response, according to the latest from KIRO 7.
