Puyallup junior high school to remain closed for weeks after fire damage

A junior high school in Puyallup is set to be closed for multiple weeks after a fire damaged the building earlier this month.

On April 4, a fire broke out inside the electrical room of a new addition of Ferrucci Junior High School, and the school has remained closed ever since, the Puyallup School District (PSD) announced.

Central Pierce Fire & Rescue noted there were no students inside the building at the time, and the building’s fire alarm and sprinkler system activated, limiting the spread of the fire.

The fire broke out in one of the new additions to the school, which was completed in 2022. The expansion project added roughly 21,700 square feet, including 10 classrooms, expanded office and commons space, and the removal of portables, according to KING 5.

Puyallup students shift to remote, split campus learning as cleanup continues

Ferrucci Junior High School extended its closure through the end of this week and will submit an emergency waiver request to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for additional closure days.

After the fire investigation was completed, it was determined that full personal protective equipment is currently required to access the building safely. Because of this, PSD staff and restoration crews have not been able to enter the building as they await air quality results.

Other assessments identified the need for a comprehensive post-incident environmental study. The testing will help determine if any surface contamination or air quality concerns exist beyond the immediate fire area and ensure appropriate remedies can be made.

PSD noted the new addition to the school has been “significantly compromised,” as well as all the classrooms on the main floor of the school. The volume of smoke in the commons area and extensive fire and water damage throughout the building have made it unsafe to contain impacted areas and reopen any portion of the school.

As a result, the school will not be usable for the remainder of this week and the following two weeks due to the scope of restoration and necessary cleanup.

To safely resume instruction, PSD has devised a temporary plan to allow for in-person learning as other students transition to remote learning.

“While remote learning is not ideal, we are committed to maintaining learning continuity while prioritizing student safety,” PSD stated.

All 7th and 8th-grade students will be doing remote learning under the temporary plan, while 9th-grade students will engage in in-person learning at Emerald Ridge High School and Glacier View Junior High School.

The student schedules, transportation for 9th-grade students, and additional details are being finalized and are expected to be available no later than Thursday.

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