Two firefighters were hospitalized for heat exhaustion after battling flames Tuesday at St. Petersburg High School.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue officials say the two-alarm fire broke out when some insulation caught fire around the time a roofing company was using torches on the third-floor roof. Somewhere between 40 and 50 firefighters were dispatched to the scene.
Emergency crews were forced to remove portions of the roofing materials but managed to get the situation under control in approximately 45 minutes. A fire official said the roof is now exposed, and authorities are concerned about potential water damage that could come from the rain expected this week.
No construction workers or school employees were injured in the fire. Students and teachers have not returned to campus yet, so only a small number of staff members were in the building at the time.
Back in 2012, a fire swept through the building, and the district spent about $350,000 to repair damages. The 2012 fire was sparked by a hot torch left by a roofing company that was working on the auditorium.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
- Supermarket employee who disappeared 10 years ago was behind a cooler the whole time
- Police: Baby dies after being dropped to pavement during fight, mother charged with murder
- Man arrested in connection to Ole Miss student’s death
- Deputies: Man molests 14-year-old girl behind gas station, claims she came onto him
- Confusing, chaotic scene leads to shooting death of K-9 officer by deputy