Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Pacoima Middle School Fire
Share:
by fourbyfourblazer | October 5, 2008 at 06:06 pm
1769 views | 10 Recommendations | 22 comments
Photos
There was a fire reported at 4:20pm at the Auditorium of Pacoima Middle School in Pacoima, California. A predominate hispanic neighborhood that has a history of gangs and violence within the community was taken back by the sounds of fire trucks arriving down the side street of the school.
One neighbor told me at the scene that in all the years that he has lived there he has never seen anything of that magnitude with more than a dozen fire trucks lined up down his street.
Approximately 122 firefighters were called to the scene and the initial fire was put out but smoke was still billowing from the roof of the auditorium when I arrived on the scene and the fire was finally put out at 5:40pm.
============================================================
Update 10:38PM Oct 5 2008
On the Los Angeles Fire Department Blog it is report that 17 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, L.A. Unified School Police and DWP, under the direction of Assistant Chief Don Frazeur, responded to a Structure Fire at 9919 Laurel Canyon Bl. in the San Fernando area.
The school auditorium suffered significant smoke, fire and water damage. The damage is estimated to be $2,000,000 [$1,500,000 structure, $500,000 contents].
Read more at...
http://lafd.blogspot.com/2008/10/major-emergency-fire-at-pacoima-middle.html
Other Related Web Content
CBS Web Site - Video Available at this location
http://cbs2.com/local/Pacoima.Middle.School.2.833241.html
West Coast 911 News
http://westcoast911.com/wp/2008/10/06/lafd-major-emergency-fire-at-pacoima-middle-school/
More pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisyarzab/sets/72157607771429470/
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most Recommended Comment
Crowd Power
fourbyfourblazer
Pacoima, California, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (22)
at 19:21 on October 5th, 2008
Thanks Terri for the flag. I followed a Fox 11 News Helicopter to the scene of the fire and managed to get some good shots with my camera and also breathe in alittle smoke. (cough)
at 19:21 on October 5th, 2008
Citizen journalism at it's best - nice work!
at 19:27 on October 5th, 2008
I use to attend the school back when it was a mix of many different cultures when the magnet program was first introduced to the school. I believe there were several actors that once attended the school back when I attended. A couple of them Billy Jayne & Trevor Weaver from "Jump Street" and "Silver Spoons" were friends of mine at the school.
at 19:57 on October 5th, 2008
fourbyfourblazer, great stuff. I'm sorry to hear about the fire. Will the students be affected by it - can they go to school on Monday?
at 22:01 on October 5th, 2008
It appears contained to the Auditorium so I believe classes should not be affected throughout the school.
The Auditorium seats 670 students. On, January 31, 1957 a plane crashed on the school field, killing 3 and injuring 90 others. The famous singer Richie Valens attended Pacoima Middle School.
at 20:10 on October 5th, 2008
this is really upsetting because i just graduated from that school in june.and the aud. was my favorite part of the school because i was in the dance production there and we spent most of our time on the stage there.
does anyone no the cause of the fire?!?!
at 20:50 on October 5th, 2008
I just drove by again and as of 9:49PM there are still fire fighters on the scene investigating the cause of the fire.
at 09:41 on October 6th, 2008
maybe they can build another 100+ million dollar school in LA. that would put taxpayer money to a good use.
at 10:14 on October 6th, 2008
Bill Hicks, Go screw yourself. These kids work so hard on their stage productions. This is devastating. It's going to take 1-1/2 to 2 years to rebuild. I am sick about this, absolutely sick. I hope it wasn't arson because if it was, I hope they catch whoever did it, make them repay the damage and throw their @sses in jail (another good use of taxpayer money).
at 14:33 on October 6th, 2008
This is so sad. I graduated from Pacoima in 96 and this is at least the second fire at the school ever since I was there. One of them took out a few classrooms by the little garden area on the Laurel Canyon side. I believe that fire was in 95 or 96. Anyway, it's really devastating to the kids.
at 15:39 on October 6th, 2008
i just graduated from stage craft last year and the auidtorium was like my second home and now it really isnt going to be the same.
at 15:54 on October 6th, 2008
sydney i love u!
and ur absolutly right
the aud. was our second home.
and now its gone!all of dance productions
traditions for the 8th graders r gone!no more of
writing on the walls and in the closets in the dressing
rooms saying meaningful messages to the upcoming 8th
graders.at first i saw a bulliten and i thought it was a chain,then
i decided to click on it and i was like omg! it wasnt a chain! its true!
but in a way our 8th grade class is a legend!we were the last class to be
on that stage before it was burnt down!thats pretty cool. but it still really sucks
that the stage and the chairs and the stage designs and the dressing rooms,and the
DISCO BALL is gone! u guys just replaced the disco ball!!! that sucks!!! im still in shock!
at 16:04 on October 6th, 2008
MY LITTLE SISTER IS IN 8TH GRADE THERE. THE PRODUCTIONS ARE THE ONES SUFFERING FROM THIS. THE MAIN REASON THEY HAVE PEOPLE WANTING TO GO THERE ARE DANCE. MUSICAL THEATER, FILM, STAGE AND DRAMA. IM SO SORRY FOR YOU ALL
at 17:18 on October 6th, 2008
wow this just sucks......when i heard bout this i was shocked as hell....damn....i even graduated from this school recently in film production....this is real a downer....just hope that the on going productions still get their chance to perform....but really damn
at 17:30 on October 6th, 2008
I cannot believe this happened! I remember being in that auditorium earlier in the year. There are so many memories there and to think that very place has been damaged. AH! The productions right now must be in total chaos. Hopefully it wasn't anyones fault. But honest to god I bet it was someone who attended the school because really knowing the people their, this was no accident! Knowing my luck as well it was probably someone I knew. Oh and if it was this was, probably what I would have said, " HAHHAHA. NICE JOB BURNING DOWN THE AUDITORIUM....NOT! YOU MORON!" I don't know how the hell they are going to fix this because right now their is no money! Also, I'm curious to know if and where they are going to have a winter show. I wanted to go to support my old school. Eh.
P.S. SYDNEY I LUV U! VERY TRUE ALEXIS!
at 17:56 on October 6th, 2008
I was there in 1981-82 and there were a lot great memories. I remember the drafting class was also in the auditorium off to the left of the stage. It probably changed since then. But the good news is that there was no one hurt in the fire and we shouldn't really speculate until the investigation is done.
I can only imagine how many kids will be affected from this and hope that the rebuilding of the Auditorium will be done quickly.
at 17:57 on October 6th, 2008
DAMN DUDE THAT SUX SO BAD. IMA MISS THAT AUDITIORUIN. DAMN THAT FREAKEN SUX. =/ 50 YEARS OF PERFORMING HISTORY GONE. LEGENDS MIGHT OF BEEN BORN ON THAT STAGE. FUCK THAT SUX. I REALIZED I LOVED ACTING ON THAT VERY STAGE. DAMN POOR NEW KIDS.
at 18:23 on October 6th, 2008
Richie Valens was probably on that stage since he actually attended that school. Also several actors and a recording artist attended the school as well.
at 13:30 on October 7th, 2008
I went to that school and graduated last year and that suck, the other thing that got burnt was a room called the cadet room that was like ROTC but cooler and thats whats u see in the first picture there and that was the crziest place to hang out and that sucks it all got burnt, oh well and that neighboorhood int all gangs, i live there and i havent heard any killings in a while and only skaters are all around there so check your sources
at 18:46 on October 7th, 2008
don't worry everyone, we will rebuild! Pacoima will be back better than ever.
History Rocks!!!!
Mr. F.
at 20:38 on October 16th, 2008
I graduated Pacoima 2 years ago and visit it constantly. Man, what a disappointment.
at 13:20 on December 8th, 2008
I just graduated from this school and it is a shame for this to happen, in my three years in this shool i learned everything that i now today about the arts from drama to film, there was a lot of good memories that were shared there and for all those students that are still in the school donrt worry about it you guys will do great either way i mean you guys are panthers.
laters