PIHS fire damages estimated at $125,000
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Cleanup from a Sept. 29 fire at Presque Isle High School is now complete and district officials are waiting for the final bills to arrive.
“Everything was covered by insurance, and we’re estimating the cleanup bill to be at least $125,000 … probably a bit more by the time all bills are paid,” SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson informed directors at last Wednesday night’s board meeting.
The fire originated in a custodial storage room off the lower gymnasium. Capt. Vince Baldwin of the Presque Isle Fire Department attributes the cause of the fire to spontaneous combustion, initiated by oil-soaked rags that were used to refinish the gym floor.
Johnson said about 350 metal folding chairs, as well as 20 padded Wildcat chairs were destroyed in the fire.
“The majority of our athletic uniforms were stored in a room above the fire and they did incur smoke damage,” he said. “They are in the process of being dry cleaned and they should be back in about two weeks.”
Bob Gagnon, the district’s operations supervisor, said crews were busy for several days following the fire getting things repaired and refreshed.
“We replaced 620 ceiling tiles and about 800 square feet of flooring,” he said. “We did a lot of painting and cleaning ourselves, and also had a professional cleaning company assist us, as well. Our crews spent more than 300 hours of overtime working on getting everything ready for school to resume on Oct. 10 following harvest break. They all did a great job.”
Judson Harding, a Blake Street neighbor who reported the fire, was presented a PIHS Wildcat sweatshirt last week as a token of the district’s appreciation.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
