Variety learned that the brush fire started at about 9 a.m. behind the school’s Building E.
The Department of Public Safety had yet to issue a statement about the incident.
“This was no small brush fire. It was a very large and very, very smoky brush fire that forced the evacuation of the campus,” a witness told the Variety yesterday.
The witness said he doesn’t want the “public misinformed as they were last year,” referring to a similar bush fire near the school area.
“We were glad to see at least somebody came and we thank those officers for their help. We did see an ambulance but it drove right past students,” he added.
“And, as last year, there were no emergency personnel to help with the evacuation. It was reported last year there were [responders], when there were none.”
This time, he said, “the first emergency personnel that responded to help the students came amazingly fast two hours later.”
The witness said they want to know “why is it that when a school calls 911 and says they have a fire, why aren’t all emergency services dispatched to help? One would think if ‘fire’ and ‘school’ are said in the same sentence that is something to take seriously, even if it is just a small brush fire.”
