High School Suffered Smoke Damage From Thursday’s Fire

Last week’s fire at is still under investigation, but Broadview Heights Fire Chief Jeffrey Hajek said he thinks it started with some stain-soaked rags in a trash can in the wood shop.

Hajek said that kind of fire happens more often than people think. The fire was not thought to be intentional—the doors to the wood shop were locked and no one had been inside for about an hour.

There was very little physical damage, but the school had to work quickly to clean up the smoke damage, said Larry Tomec, director of business services for the Brecksville-Broadview Heights schools. The , after school was out. The school was closed on Friday.

The fire was contained to the wood shop, but the smoke got into the ventilating system, the walls and the carpeting, Tomec said. And the sprinkler system did its job, putting out the fire, he added, but it also sent water rolling down the halls.

The damage is estimated to be $200,000 at this point, Tomec said. He noted that the estimate could still increase or decrease, though. The school will be covered by its property insurance.

Paul Davis Restoration worked all weekend to make sure the high school could be open again by Monday, Tomec said.

There were no injuries. Check back for more updates on the fire as the Broadview Heights Fire Department completes its investigation.