Mayor Pat Hampson has been on the scene for several hours and when a TV camera caught up with him – he said “this morning’s fire is a real tragedy in so many ways” and he hopes as many parts of the school can be saved as possible.

Hampson had been called by Fire Chief Danny Skaros as soon as the Department knew what they faced.

There is one report the fire may have started in a dumpster in front of the east wing where the blaze has consumed all of the structure. (The fire chief nows says that information does not seem valid – the cause of the fire is not known – fire inspectors will sift through the rubble once the fire is completely out.

A piece of heavy equipment is now working on trying to prevent the spread of the blaze to the new gymnasium. Unusual to see heavy equipment inside a fire in progress.

Both ends of the east side of the structure are engaged including the new ‘admin’ area (north) and the Frank Venables Auditorium (south).

Picture is of new ‘admin’ part of the building in old gymnasium. This is a real hot fire area and difficult to fight because of the height of the building. Members of the Oliver Fire Department fight from many sides of the complex. Update at 5:45 am