Fire Damages School Threatens Prom

A fire ripped through a northeastern Oklahoma school Saturday morning just hours before it would've been packed with students dancing the night away. While the damage was being tallied the town was

Saturday, April 15th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A fire ripped through a northeastern Oklahoma school Saturday morning just hours before it would've been packed with students dancing the night away. While the damage was being tallied the town was working together to make sure Saturday night's prom still went on.

For Adair high school students Friday was a busy day decorating the gym in preparation for the big prom. Everything was perfect when prom committee members left the gym Friday night, but when the fire department arrived Saturday morning they were met with a devastating site. The same gym was now on fire and spreading toward the school. The fire department put out the fire just after 5 a.m.

Soon after that dozens of people arrived to see how they could help. The entire community came together each playing an important roll. Some of the decorations that were in the gym could be salvaged, other items had to be remade or bought.

School officials opted to move the prom rather than cancel it. The main event went off without a hitch at an elementary school across the street.

Adair superintendent Tom Linihan says classes will be canceled on Monday while investigators try to find a cause for the blaze. Damage to the school is minor. No word yet on a dollar amount for the damage to the gym. But for the town of Adair that's one of the minor details they'll overlook for now.