Fire damages WHS bleachers

A suspected arson fire damaged the Wahkiakum High School stadium bleachers Saturday afternoon.

Officers from the Longview Fire Department and Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Department are investigating the cause of the fire, which may be arson.

Meanwhile, damage to the bleachers, especially the roof, led Wahkiakum School District Superintendent Bob Garrett to reschedule track meets set for middle and high school athletes for other venues.

Garrett said Tuesday that an engineer from the district's insurance carrier will inspect the bleachers today (Thursday) to make an assessment. An insurance agent initially estimated the repair in the range of $50,000 to $60,000, he said.

Garrett anticipates that the district will remove the entire roof and improve its structural capability. Repairs probably won't be started until the summer, he added.

Two teen-age girls reported the fire about 5:04 p.m. Saturday. Cathlamet firemen returning from an ambulance call were near their station and arrived on the scene soon after the fire was reported to find flames shooting into the roof in the area where the Mule pep band performs during football games. They were able to knock down the flames as crews started arriving from the District 4 and Puget Island departments.

Sheriff's deputies Hans York and Bill Tawater also responded to the scene. After directing traffic, York followed a tip about a boy leaving the area and contacted the boy and his family, and the boy described what he had seen.

"We were also told three juveniles were seen leaving the area, but we have no more information or identification of them," Tawater said.

A fire investigator from the Longview department has taken the lead in the investigation of the fire, Sheriff Dan Bardsley said Tuesday. He will try to determine the cause of the fire and may interview people in the area. His report is expected around the end of the week.