Security guard snuffs out Warren Twp. High fire

A security guard at Warren Township High School's O'Plaine Campus is credited with quickly snuffing out a fire in a men's washroom Friday morning and preventing more costly damages.

School officials won't release the name of the security guard, who suffered from smoke inhalation while putting out the fire in a large roll of toilet paper in one of the stalls in the first floor washroom.

The fire, which caused an estimated $5,000 in damage, appeared to be intentionally set, said Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Tanner.

"If it wasn't for the quick thinking of the guard, that fire could have spread quickly and caused a lot more damage," Tanner said. "But he had it out before the sprinkler system activated, which seriously reduced the amount of damages the school had."

Officials said the security guard was taken to Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan, and was back to work within "a couple of hours." Warren's security guards are contracted through Andy Frain. Company officials said they couldn't comment at this time.

The guard was walking through the halls when he noticed the smoke and pulled the fire alarm before fighting the blaze, Tanner said.

Firefighters arrived at the campus about 9:48 a.m. to discover smoke coming from the washroom.

Students had already been evacuated from the building, and waited outside for about 30 minutes while smoke was ventilated from the hallways.

"It was a bit cold, but no one was in danger or injured from it," Tanner said. "We were about to have the buses pulled around for students to sit in to stay warm, but the hallways were cleared at the same time so we just let them back in the school."

Carolyn Waller, spokeswoman for Warren Township High School District 121, said students were outside for only about 15 minutes.

Waller said the district is working closely with police and fire officials to determine how the fire started.

"We are investigating the incident thoroughly," she said. "But, we want to make it clear to parents that students were safe."

An arson fire destroyed Warren High School in 1984. The school was rebuilt on O'Plaine Road and opened in 1987.