Smoke Causes Evacuation of Middle School in Keizer

In addition to the motor home a 1999 Chevrolet pick-up truck parked in a driveway across the street at 1830 Dixon Street sustained heat damage to the rear of the vehicle.

Photo by: Tim King

(KEIZER, Ore.) - The Keizer Fire District responded to the report of a fire alarm sounding early Monday morning at Claggett Creek Middle School at 1810 Alder Drive NE.

Upon arriving they found smoke in the backstage area of the school. While reroute to the location, firefighters were notified that school officials reported seeing smoke in the building.

With that report the alarm was raised from an alarm sounding call to a commercial structure alarm. The call was received at 8:27 AM and the first unit arrived on the scene at 8:31 AM.

Three engines, one ladder truck, one medic unit, one duty officer unit and 10 firefighters responded to the call.

When fire crews arrived at the school they found the building had been evacuated and smoke was visible in the backstage area of the building.

Fire crews were able to identify the source of the smoke as a faulty electrical cord in a lamp used as a prop by the schools drama department in a backstage dressing room.

Firefighters removed the lamp and ventilated the area. Students were then allowed to return to the building.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Fire officials would like to remind residents to frequently inspect electrical cords and appliances when they are in use and immediately stop using them when they observe frayed or broken power cords.