Wildfire Destroys School in Small Eastern Washington Town

A fire has destroyed a school in an eastern Washington town.

Lincoln County Sheriff Wade Magers said the fire at Almira Elementary and Middle School started around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Classes and after school activities had been canceled because of a power outage so no one was inside, he said.

No one was injured, The Spokesman-Review reported.

Lincoln County Fire District Chief Denny Pinar said when he arrived he saw flames in the elementary school and that while firefighters tried for hours to stop the fire it moved into the adjoining administration building and the school gym.

He said the building is a total loss. Students have reverted to remote learning and will return to classes starting Oct. 25 at different locations.

District Business Manager Laureen Robertson said officials hope to have portables in Almira within the next three months for all grade levels.

The Almira School District is located south of Grand Coulee.