Small fire at school does $30k in damage

A fire in the heating system of a portable classroom at Jason Lee Middle School in Hazel Dell on Monday night did around $30,000 in damage, according to the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Firefighters responded to a fire alarm shortly before 10 p.m. at the school, 8500 N.W. Ninth Ave.

Todd Iremonger, a battalion chief with Clark County Fire District 6, said a maintenance worker helped firefighters find light smoke he noticed inside the structure.

The fire, Iremonger said, was fairly minor. A maintenance worker who pointed it out was cleared to get back to working on the portable shortly after it was put out.

Deputy Clark County Fire Marshal Dan Young said firefighters had the fire under control quickly, but the fire and response still left roughly $30,000 in damage to the building.

The portable won’t be usable until it’s repaired, he said.