Claremont Middle School Oakland Will Be Open After Monday’s Fire

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519684_630x354Oakland Unified School District has posted the following message concerning the aftermath of the fire at Claremont Middle School on Monday morning, that caused $1 million damage:

As a result of rapid response and coordination between the Oakland Fire Department, PG&E, and the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), Claremont Middle School will be in session on Tuesday, February 17. 
Fire struck Claremont’s cafeteria building in the wee hours of Monday morning, casting doubt on whether the school would open on Tuesday. That uncertainty was resolved after a thorough assessment of the site and its operational systems determined the campus was both safe and ready to accommodate students and staff who return from the Presidents’ Day holiday on February 17.

The Oakland Fire Department (OFD) responded shortly after 1:00am on Monday and extinguished the flames by 3:10am. In the meantime, OFD was able to contain the fire to the kitchen and cafeteria structure and keep it from spreading to the other buildings on campus. No one was injured in the blaze, but the cafeteria facility was rendered unusable by the fire damage.

We will make alternative arrangements for school lunch beginning Tuesday, February 17. During the remainder of this week, brown bag meals will be prepared off-site and delivered to Claremont. Beginning the week of February 23, OUSD will operate a temporary kitchen on the Claremont campus and use this space to prepare food that’s transported from the kitchen at Oakland High. OUSD’s Facilities and Nutrition Services Departments are developing a more permanent arrangement and will provide further details when available.

Additionally, the cause of the fire is unknown. The Oakland Fire Dept. is continuing to investigate the fire as a possible arson. If you have any information related to this incident, you are encouraged to contact OFD at 510-238-4031, or the OUSD School Police at 510-224-8243.

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