Princeton Times

Pieces from Princeton's Past

Related Photos

  • Flames leap out of the third floor of Princeton Junior High School. Over 1 million gallons of water was used to try and contain the fire

    1977 PJHS Fire 1.JPG

  • Fire doors and hallways were mostly untouched, and the flames were contained to the wood lathe walls of classrooms.

    1977 PJHS Fire-hallway.JPG

  • Chemical explosions and smoldering remains in the science labs left nearby residents nauseated throughout the remainder of the week following the fire. John Baker

    1977 PJHS fire-science lab.JPG

  • Eric Thompson, Keith Yates, and Jeff Rachel were some of the first students out of the building at 9:15 a.m. Right before the first bell was supposed to ring. John Baker

    1977 PJHS fire-witnesses.JPG

Discussion

December 19, 2012

From the December 21, 1977 Archives - Fire at Princeton Junior High School

by Ginger Boyles Princeton Times

PRINCETON — In response to multiple requests, this week I will be taking a look back at the fire that destroyed the Princeton Junior High School (now Straley Elementary) in 1977.

The fire started shortly after 9 a.m. in the third floor boys bathroom. According to firefighters at the time, that area was completely engulfed in flame by the time they arrived and left only a sewer vent pipe that ran along a vertical steel beam. A more detailed account of what was left after the fire will appear later on this week.

The fire followed in the wake of the Board of Education's acceptance of more than 60 school safety requirements for Mercer County schools from the State Fire Marshall that included: cutting off all open inside stairwells with approved fire and smoke encloures (fire doors), closing off transioms with "one hour fire rated materials", providing ventilation for chemistry rooms, and recharging overdue fire extinguishers.

As the week progresses, I will take a look at what happened after the fire and other other related stories.

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