Tag: blown transformer

By Caleb Hutton

BELLINGHAM — Last night’s three-alarm fire in the boiler room of Sehome High School turned out to be a lot less devastating than most three-alarm fires.

In fact, I kind of doubt many high school students were devastated to hear school’s cancelled until repairmen can replace a blown transformer. The apparent equipment failure led to a lot of heavy smoke and a few small flames at 11:55 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25.

Photo by Colin Diltz.

Nobody was hurt and damage was contained to a 30-by-30-foot detached brick building on the east side of campus.

We’re continuing to update the story as info rolls in. Officials haven’t said yet if classes will resume Wednesday.

For now, here are some photos of the scene. And here’s a Twitter feed timeline of the fire as it happened.

Smoke rising from blown transformer at Sehome High School. Janitors heard crackling. Then, boom. It went dark. twitter.com/bhamcrime/stat…

— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) February 26, 2013

Now smoke is venting from boiler room, where electrical vault is housed. Under control. Power’s out. #bellingham twitter.com/bhamcrime/stat…

— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) February 26, 2013

@bhamcrime Surprised it took so long.

— Katie Ramsey (@WildCat1227) February 26, 2013

Still no official word to say if classes are still on at Sehome High in a few hours. Most everyone on scene of fire assumed it’ll be closed.

— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) February 26, 2013

Firefighters packing up to clear scene of Sehome High fire at 1 a.m. Updated story here: bellinghamherald.com/2013/02/26/289… twitter.com/bhamcrime/stat…

— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) February 26, 2013

No school Tuesday for Sehome High students after a transformer exploded. Full story: bellinghamherald.com/2013/02/26/289…

— Bellingham Herald (@BhamHerald) February 26, 2013