Burned classrooms had fix-up plans

By Jack Gillum

A fire that broke out at a local middle school early Sunday afternoon and caused nearly $5 million in damage was not deliberately set, authorities said Wednesday.

Ten out of 12 classrooms were destroyed in the science wing of Buchser Middle School, 1111 Bellomy St., said Dave Parker, a spokesman for the Santa Clara Fire Department.

The fire, which started shortly after noon on Sunday, happened the day before students were to return from vacation, according to Kyle Eaton, the school's vice principal. No one was injured.

The seven-alarm fire sent nearly 150 firefighters and seven fire departments to the scene, Parker said. The fire was the largest his department has responded to in recent decades.

"I was in my room and smelled smoke," Steve Chandler, a seventh-grade science teacher, said. He described the flames as "shooting" from the other side of a wall.

"It's just terrible," Marsha Donati, an aide at the school, said. Standing by her side was Tracey Lindsey, a special education teacher whose classroom is near where the fire broke out.

While investigators determined that the fire was not caused by arson, authorities believe that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short.

Eaton speculated that the school's old buildings had potential problems that were apparent before the fire.

"Sparks would fly when lights were turned on," Eaton said, referring to the decades-old school, whose science buildings did not have sprinklers attached.

Eaton said that Buchser was one of three schools eligible to receive a school-wide renovation next fall. No one was available for comment at the district offices Wednesday.

Dozens of school workers and nearby neighbors â€" including Santa Clara students â€" stood to watch the flames as fire trucks raced by to stop the blaze, which originated in a newly-renovated portion of the school.

A facade near the school's northeast side collapsed at about 1:30 p.m. Fire crews were on scene until 7 p.m. to contain the fire, Parker said.

"It's so sad. It makes me want to cry," Linda Arechiga, 43, whose seventh-grade son attends the school, said. Arechiga attended Buchser herself when it was a high school.

Authorities did not believe that chemicals from the science building made containing the fire more difficult.

Eaton said that the classroom on fire had received 18 new computers. One science room in the building was recently renovated for technology equipment about three months ago, he said.

An Arrupe Center administrator said that service learning at the school won't be disrupted because of the fire. "Some things may be a little chaotic while they're dealing with so many other changes," coordinator Shirley Okumura said.

Eaton said that numerous area businesses and individuals have shown an "outpouring" of support and have donated both money and equipment to help the school rebuild.

The school requests that donations be made to the Buchser Fire Fund, 1111 Belomy St.

û Contact Jack Gillum at (408) 554-4849 or jgillum@scu.edu.