VINCENT – No one was injured and no residents were impacted after a large fire gutted a building at an abandoned school early Tuesday.

Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators are assisting Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies in determining the cause of the fire at the former Tri-Community Adult School, 16209 E. San Bernardino Rd., according to Cpt. Ron Haralson, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched at 2:43 a.m. and once on scene saw heavy smoke and fire. The fire heavily damaged the cafeteria portion of the school, Haralson told SGV CityWatch.

More than 100 firefighters, including West Covina firefighters, battled the blaze.

Heavy equipment was summoned to break open the walls and roof of the cafeteria to better apply water and foam. No other areas of the school were destroyed, Haralson told SGV CityWatch.

San Bernardino Road between Irwindale Avenue and Vincent Avenue has been closed off for fire personnel and investigators to continue working on scene, which may be well into the morning, Haralson told SGV CityWatch.

The cause remains under investigation.

A building at the abandoned school was subject to an estimated $100,000 in damage April 9 when a possible transient cooking fire ignited in a classroom, authorities said in a previous interview.

A firefighter was injured in the April 9 fire.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VINCENT - A likely cooking fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the building at a shuttered school in unincorporated Covina early Friday, a Sheriff’s sergeant said.

Firefighters discovered one building at the site, 16209 E. San Bernardino Rd., fully involved with flames just before 2 a.m. April 9, according to Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

“The captain said the fire appeared to have started in one of the classrooms along the east side,” according to Sgt. Pete Shupe of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

Evidence at the scene indicates a cooking fire started by squatters inside the classroom grew out of control, according to a report Shupe read.

One firefighter received minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital to be checked, Pittman told SGV CityWatch.

The building is on the former Griswold school site.

Firefighters reported flames were knocked down at 2:41 a.m., Pittman told SGV CityWatch.