Fire forces school evacuation

WASILLA -- A fire of unknown origin prompted the evacuation of Tanaina Elementary Friday morning. No one was injured, and as of press time there were no estimates on damage.

The fire apparently ignited in a storage room adjacent to the girls' locker room, located near the school's gymnasium. It was not clear as of Friday afternoon what caused the fire.

"But we know it wasn't an explosion or a bomb, which had been rumored," said Kim Floyd, public information specialist with the Mat-Su Borough School District.

Tanaina is the district's largest elementary school and more than 400 students and staff had to be evacuated. Floyd said recent districtwide training in the incident command system and emergency preparedness paid off.

"The staff has done an excellent job," Floyd said. Once the fire was detected, children were removed to portable buildings. Tanaina staff established a perimeter around the main school building and directed traffic.

Children were being moved to Wasilla Middle School Friday afternoon, where parents could pick them up, providing they brought proof of identification. Tanaina staff planned activities for the students who remained at Wasilla Middle for the rest for the school day.

Robin Reno, a Wasilla daycare provider who had four of her client's children at Tanaina on Friday, said she thought the school staff and local emergency workers handled the incident well.

"I give them very good marks," Reno said, "I think it shows in the children -- hardly anyone was upset or crying."

Reno drove to Tanaina Friday after a concerned parent who lives near Tanaina called Reno to tell her that fire trucks and police cars were arriving at the school.

Some children were unable to take their backpacks with them during the evacuation. Schools are closed for Christmas break as of yesterday.

However, parents with identification will be able to pick up children's belongings at district central headquarters in Palmer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26.