Fire breaks out at Mack School, causes more than $100,000 in damage
Head custodian Michael Shankland, right, and Supervisor of Environmental Services Tim Gruszczynski look at a pile of partially burnt classroom supplies taken from a classroom at Mack School.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
This story has been updated with information from Ann Arbor schools
A fire broke out at Mack School this morning, where summer classes were being held, and caused more than $100,000 damage, Ann Arbor Fire Battalion Chief Robert Vogel said.
No injuries were reported in the 8:30 a.m. blaze that started in a storage room inside a second-floor classroom in the building on Miller Road west of downtown, he said.
The cause is under investigation, he said, but nothing indicates the fire was suspicious.
Vogel said a teacher pulled the fire alarm after she saw smoke coming from a classroom. The fire spread, damaging multiple classrooms.
Partially burnt classroom supplies sit on a tarp outside the school.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Students who were supposed to be attending summer classes at Mack will be attending their final week of summer classes at King Elementary School, Margolis said. Both Wines and King have air conditioning.
About 16 firefighters responded and had the fire under control in about an hour. The building has heavy smoke and water damage and it's unclear how long it will have to be closed, he said.
Margolis said she expects the building to be ready for the first day of school in September.
K-12 education reporter Kyle Feldscher contributed to this story.
Comments
Ann English
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 11:25 p.m.
What about sprinkler systems for middle schools? I've heard of high schools, at least in fiction, having them.
jns131
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 2:37 a.m.
Tappan and Pioneer and Huron have them. Not sure about the elementary.
jns131
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.
I am seriously glad to hear no one was injured in this fire. But I hate to say it, the song "smoking in the boys room" or classroom comes to mind. Although I am hearing more and more electrical fires are started by things not properly maintained. Did Pioneer have an electrical fire some time ago? Glad we had our house rewired. Now I can sleep easier. As for Mack and Mack Open? To me it is Mack School. I remember it 40 years as that and will always call it this.
G2inA2
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 1:26 a.m.
One would think that his story would be higher on the website than the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. I learned about it from a friend who is teaching summer school. Bottom of the site? Really?
L'chaim
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 11:56 p.m.
Mack's a pool. The school is Open. Or am I just crazy? Whatever the nomenclature, tragic news for our cash-strapped school.
jns131
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 1:46 p.m.
I agree. With Borders closing it will be even worse. The employees will take their children out of state...again. Good luck with the rebuilding. Mack School.
racerx
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
16 fire fighters had it under control in about an hour. Is this a lot of fire fighters or not enough? How long did it take before they were on site if the fire spead? Are there smoke alarms? If not, why not? Someone actually saw smoke coming from a room, but no alarm went off? Will Chief Barnett review this fire to see if staff responded in a timely manner and also review manpower? If it took an hour to get it under control, how many other firefighters were available if there was another major fire on the opposite side of town. Oh, I sorry, these events are rare and that most buildings have fire control measures already built in so personnel are needed less and less.
jns131
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
Retraction........That is the difference between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. We know where to put our money and safety first. Good luck Ann Arbor. I hear the mayor has a hose in his backyard.
jns131
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.
That is what I don't get. Russel Street Apt had a fire and they summoned 4 fire stations to put out a fire that was under control within an hour with one station. But they had only16 fighters? That too is also one station. Also, remember this, Ann Arbor laid off fire dept staff and police as well. Things are going to get interesting. Just a thought.
BornNRaised
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
Only in Ann Arbor would all the comments be about correcting the wording of the story rather than the story itself. How about the fact that for a school fire, AA only has 16 FFs to send? That's the entire department. How about the extreme heat the FFs dealt with today in full gear fighting a school fire? Nice work AAFD. Glad no one was hurt.
L'chaim
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 11:59 p.m.
It was a lot less extreme than the past few days (the heat), luckily!
aes
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 8:03 p.m.
Yes! We need our firefighters! They cannot be replaced. They are our best insurance in so many emergencies--fires, hazardous material, terrorism, etc. Bring back the ones laid off. We need them! PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST!
AceDeuce
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
Honestly, it depends on who you are if you say Mack School or Ann Arbor Open at Mack. When people ask me what middle school I went to I say Ann Arbor Open, because that's what it says on my middle school diploma, so that's what I call the school. But I know a lot of people still call it Mack b/c it's been called that for so long.
Renee
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 12:16 a.m.
"'Middle school diploma?'"--Yes, many middle schools hold graduation ceremonies where they hand out diplomas. I'm happy that no one was injured in this fire.
L'chaim
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
when people ask me where my daughter goes, I say "ann arbor open" and then I think how stupid it is to say the "ann arbor" part. I then resolve to start calling it "Open", which I've done (see comment below). But then, the %$#@ local news paper starts calling it Mack, which is what they called it back in the 60's, before I was born. humph. Now, how about those heroic, underpaid and underestimated firefighters? can we get some kudos, please. And don't tell me kudos should be spelled k-u-d-o-e-s, because it doesn't matter.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.
"Middle school diploma?"
Rici
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.
According to an email from AAPS's Liz Margolis, the fire started in a room on the main floor, not the 2nd floor. (More specifically, they are currently attributing it to an electrical fire in a fan in the ceiling.)
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 3:42 p.m.
The program may be "Ann Arbor Open @ Mack," but the building is still "Mack School."
Bob
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
That is correct!
a2j
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
It is Ann Arbor Open @ Mack, not Mack School. <a href="http://www.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/home" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2schools.org/aaopen.home/home</a>
Original Ann Arborite
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 3:45 p.m.
Well if ur 'from' A2 then u would basically know it as Mack School