Middleberg Middle School Gym Catches on Fire

News9.com

BLANCHARD, Oklahoma – Firefighters extinguished a fire at a middle school near Blanchard Wednesday, according to Grady County emergency management officials.

Emergency management officials said the Middleberg Middle School gym is where the fire was concentrated. Six fire departments worked together to quickly put out the blaze at about 2 p.m.

Officials said a construction crew was doing work inside the gym when insulation in the building ignited.

Teachers said voters just passed a bond allowing the school to expand a portion of the gym to add new bathrooms and a new concession stand. A groundbreaking for the new addition was set for August 6. However the expansion was focused on the other side of the building and likely wasn't affected by this fire.

"The contractors were in there doing some work on the building and they were doing some cutting, some preparation to get school started and ended up getting some of the insulation that caught on fire, when it gets up in the walls it's hard to get to," said Grady Co. Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson.

The damage to the gym wasn't extensive but due to the amount of smoke damage likely won't be ready by the time school starts on August 12.

No other buildings were damaged and the damage won't affect the start of school.

One fire fighter was transported to an area hospital after she was overcome by the heat.