Shown are San Benito firefighters outside the San Benito High School theatre arts department, this after the fire reported there this morning was extinguished. (Staff photo by Michael Rodriguez)
By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
The smell of smoke was still in the air at San Benito High School this morning, this after a fire had been reported earlier at the campus.
San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón said the fire was contained to the black box room of the high school’s theatre arts department. Damage was confined to that area, the extent of which remains unknown.
As of 9 a.m., it was also unclear what caused the fire, which was reported by a security guard at approximately 5:20 a.m.
Upon arrival, San Benito Fire Department Operations Chief Raul Zuniga said plumes of smoke emitted from opposite sides of the theatre. Still, the chief said the fire was extinguished quickly.
Zuniga said an investigation was currently underway to determine the nature of the fire, the results of which will soon be reported to the News.
Meanwhile, San Benito CISD Community Relations Director Celia Longoria confirmed that classes would not resume until 10 a.m. today. Students that had already arrived at school were sent to the gymnasium, according to Limón, until school reopened.
Below is the press release issued by the school district this morning:
Classes at San Benito High School will begin at 10 a.m. today due to a fire in the school’s Black Box Theatre area. The fire was contained solely to that area on campus.
A San Benito CISD night security officer reported an alarm at approximately 5:20 a.m. at the school’s Black Box Theatre, a facility used by theatre arts students and members of the Belles drill team, according to Principal Delia Weaver.
Members of the San Benito Fire Department, San Benito CISD Police Department and administration are working to clear up the damage at this time.
“We are thankful that school was not in session at the time and that nobody was hurt. We are relieved that the fire was contained to only that area,” said San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón.
Bus students beginning their bus routes early in the morning were already en route to the campus, including students who were dropped off early. Those particular students were being detained in the gymnasium until classes resumed this morning.
“I want to stress to parents that no other area at the campus sustained any damage, therefore, the remainder of the campus remains safe and classes will resume today at 10 a.m. for all high school students,” Limón said.
Check back at www.sbnewspaper.com for more as developments occur, or pick up the Feb. 19 edition of the San Benito News.
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