Fire destroys West Covina school district warehouse

WEST COVINA – A mechanical warehouse at the West Covina Unified School District’s maintenance yard was destroyed by fire Tuesday, officials said.The blaze was reported at 7p.m. on the grounds of the school district administrative office, located at 1717 W. Merced Ave., West Covina Fire Department Capt. Brent Hamm said.

Firefighters immediately called for backup, “due to the amount of fire when our units arrived,” Hamm said.

Thirty-seven firefighters doused the flames with water from the ground and from a ladder perched high above the burning structure.

The building appeared to be a total loss and a school bus stored inside the building was destroyed in the blaze, West Covina Fire Department Capt. Michael Fountain said.

Officials initially expressed concern that there may have been chemicals, such as paint and propane, inside the building, however it was later determined that the fire was not believed to pose a hazardous materials threat, officials said.

School district maintenance workers were summoned to the scene to explain to firefighters what was stored in the building and where, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Joel Douty said.

The fire was extinguished in about 30 minutes, Fountain said. Firefighters cut through the building’s metal walls with saws to access the blaze.

Story by San Gabriel Valley Tribune