photo by Gary Phillips in Downtown Tulsa
Smoke as seen near 15th & Lewis Ave.
The fire's smoke streams north toward downtown.Eight firefighters were injured and an entire school was displaced after an explosion at the old Barnard Elementary in Tulsa.
Tulsa Fire spokesperson Stan May tells KTUL.com that six firefighters are resting at home. The other two are being treated in the hospital for 2nd degree burns to their hands and back.
The schoolhouse, which was closed as part of Tulsa Public School consolidation, had recently found a new use as the home to a charter school, Tulsa School for Arts and Sciences.
Neighbors near 17th & south Lewis Avenue say they heard a boom at the old Barnard Elementary School building. A huge fire then engulfed the structure.
Eight firefighters were taken to the hospital. Most of them will be released, but at least three could be held overnight. The firefighters were injured during an explosion and suffered from a combination of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns on their hands, authorities said.
"We are concerned about the safety of the firefighters who have been injured fighting the fire," Tulsa Schools superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families."
Tulsa Public Schools closed Barnard Elementary as part of Project Schoolhouse consolidation in 2011.
"We are greatly saddened by the fire at the historic Barnard building and the devastating impact this has had on the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences," Ballard said. "They are a charter school partner with Tulsa Public Schools, and we are committed to helping them recover from the tragic loss of this facility."
The magnet school serves about 300 students and has been around for 12 years.
"It felt like a real school and I just don't' know what the kids are going to do now," said Sojourner Harper, mother of a student at the school. "Everyone was excited beyond belief to be in the new school building."
Classes will resume for TSAS students at Thursday, Sept. 6 at the former Sequoyah Elementary building, 3441 E. Archer St.
"Tomorrow is another day we are just going to keep pushing forward," said Tulsa School for Arts and Sciences director, Eric Doss.
Those interested in donating to the Tulsa School for Arts & Sciences can do so on the school's homepage.
The Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' National Response Team will help investigate the fire. The team is comprised of Certified Fire Investigators, Fire Protection and Electrical Engineers, Chemists and other investigative resources.
