Authorities say Glenbrook South fire likely set accidentally

Authorities still are investigating a May 4 fire at Glenbrook South High School, but the cause is believed to be accidental, officials said this week.

No one was injured in the fire, which started around 3 p.m. in the Glenview school's wood shop, according to a news release from village and school officials.

School officials said all students and staff members were evacuated immediately when the alarm went off. Families, students, and staff members were kept updated via text, social media, and the District 225 website. Glenbrook South remained locked and students could not return to campus. Athletic contests and a band concert scheduled for that day at Glenbrook South were canceled.

Fire crews arrived by 3:10 p.m. and had the fire under control by 3:22 p.m.

No other parts of the building were damaged by fire, though Glenview Fire Chief Tony DeRose said there was light smoke damage in the surrounding area of the building and some damage to carpets due to water used to extinguish the fire.

DeRose said the fire likely was accidentally set.

Carol Smith, District 225 executive director of communications, said the wood shop and the adjacent school bookstore will be closed for the remainder of this school year.

Glenview police said at this time there appears to be no criminal activity.

DeRose said the fire started in a spray booth in the wood shop, as a torch was being used to distress wood. The wood was untreated, DeRose said, but was placed on a table upon which combustible materials previously had been used.

The fire was contained to the spray booth, DeRose said.

Classes were canceled at Glenbrook South on Friday with staff and students returning Monday.

In shifts scheduled by the school on Friday, more than 1,400 students picked up materials they'd left in the building, Smith said.

A 5-minute period on Monday was devoted to those students unable to pick up their materials Friday.

Smith, who described the smoke smell as minimal, said some students had been taking Advanced Placement tests when the fire alarm went off. Makeup days for those taking the tests have been scheduled for May 17-19, she said.

More than 80 people worked over two different shifts, when students were not present, to clean the affected areas and replace air ducts, Smith said.

No sprinkler system was in the wood shop. Glenbrook South opened in 1966, before the 1992 Illinois state law mandating sprinkler systems for new public schools.

"However," Smith said, "this incident is giving us the opportunity to look into putting sprinklers in that area."