A small fire in the woodshop at Mountainside High School was enough to shut the whole place down Thursday, sending students and staff streaming out to the football field while firefighters cleared smoke from the building. The Beaverton School District said the blaze triggered a full campus evacuation as a precaution, with staff quickly setting up a reunification point for families. No injuries were reported, and students were ultimately released to their guardians while crews stayed behind to deal with the aftermath.
As reported by KGW, the district said the fire was discovered at about 9:45 a.m., and officials decided to cancel classes for the rest of Thursday. Staff focused on getting students safely reunited with parents and guardians and shared updates through the district's normal communication channels. School officials said facilities teams would inspect HVAC and other systems before anyone is allowed back on campus.
Fire response and smoke removal
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews responded and reported that the fire stayed contained to the woodshop, although smoke drifted into parts of the building. Firefighters worked to pull smoke out of classrooms and hallways and ventilate the school while keeping their operations focused on the shop area. That tight containment helped limit structural damage and let the district move more quickly into reunification and cleanup mode.
School operations and reunification
The Beaverton School District said staff set up a designated pickup area on campus and made counseling supports available for students rattled by the evacuation. Families were urged to keep an eye on district communications and ParentSquare messages for ongoing instructions and updates. Facilities and maintenance teams will evaluate ventilation and classroom air quality before the campus reopens to students.
Why woodshop fires can be dangerous
Woodworking classrooms generate fine dust and rely on power tools and dust-collection systems that can increase the risk of ignition and rapid smoke spread if something goes wrong. Federal guidance on combustible-dust hazards highlights why schools and shops treat these incidents seriously and follow strict cleanup and inspection protocols. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration outlines measures for managing combustible-dust risks in facilities that handle wood products and similar materials.
District officials said they will share more information as inspections and cleanup continue. For now, the campus remains closed to students while smoke removal is completed and facilities staff finish assessing systems. Parents with questions were encouraged to stick with district channels for the latest details.
