Donations Pour In As Investigators Find The Cause Of School Fire

Wednesday, October 24th 2007, 3:49 pm

By: News On 6

School leaders in Mounds say donations are pouring in from across the state following a fire that destroyed the elementary school. Fast moving flames engulfed the elementary building last Saturday. Other buildings on the campus were spared, but they are smoke damaged.

The story has now captured statewide attention. School administrators are getting hundreds of calls for offers of textbooks and supplies. On Wednesday, another school brought 150 desks free of charge.

â€œI can't explain the outpouring. We are actually at the point now where we have to carefully look at the offer because we are so overwhelmed,â€ Mounds Superintendent Gary Lundy said.

American Heritage Bank is collecting school supplies for Mounds students and teachers at all of their branches. Those banks are located in:

Beggs

Berryhill

Cleveland

Kellyville

Kiefer

Mannford

Mounds

Sand Springs

Sapulpa

Tulsa at 71st and Union

Yale

For a complete list of what students and teachers need, click here.

Meanwhile, the State Fire Marshal's Office say the fire that engulfed the Mounds elementary school was an accident. Investigators say it was most likely an electrical problem that sparked Saturdayâ€™s blaze.

Now, the school district is making plans to get kids back in class. They're off the rest of the week, but Superintendent Gary Lundy hopes to begin classes again Monday. He says there's a plan in place to bring in portable facilities for students.

Lundy says demolition on the burned out school will not take place during school hours, but he says that cannot happen until the insurance company completes its investigation. That could take two weeks, but there's good news once it's done.

"I met today with representatives from both the Department of Labor and the Department of Environmental Quality. We went over our records for the facility and determined that everything in there is safe to remove and give us numerous options for disposal when we do remove it," Lundy said.

The school district set up an information line. Parents and community members can get the latest by calling 918-827 6897. We're told the information will be updated regularly.

Watch the video: Fire Damaged Mounds Elementary Gets Boost In Donations

Related Stories:

10/20/2007 Elementary School Gutted By Fire

10/21/2007 Classes Cancelled In Fire Damaged School District

10/22/2007 Community Reaches Out To Help Mounds School Devastated By Fire

10/23/2007 Fire Damaged School Cancels Classes For Rest Of The Week