School canceled after fire breaks out at West Haven Elementary

SALT LAKE CITY – School has been canceled for the day after a fire broke out at West Haven Elementary School Tuesday morning.

Lane Findlay with the Weber School District said the fire started as students were arriving to begin the school day, and some students were inside the school eating breakfast in the cafeteria.

“It originated in a bathroom, and it activated our sprinkler system,” Findlay said. “And so, the fire was extinguished fairly quickly.”

Sgt. Paul Babinsky with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office said the fire started in a school bathroom, possibly from a paper towel dispenser. Babinsky said the fire had been put out, but smoke remained in the school. Investigators suspect an elementary student may have started the fire and are viewing camera footage.

“School has been canceled for the remainder of the day,” Findlay said.

Students were evacuated to a nearby church as they arrived at the school and were reunited with their parents.

“We check them in, verify that they’re on the emergency contact list, and then we have a process to be able to have them check their student out and then leave,” Findlay said of the reunification process in place.

Related: Granite School District to hold reunification drill at Hunter Elementary

According to a Facebook post from West Haven City, roads surrounding the elementary were temporarily closed.

Findlay said there was no significant damage outside of the bathroom itself, but the sprinkler system left water inside the school that would need to be cleaned up and dried out before students return. Findlay said school should resume as normal for the remainder of the week.

“We extend our gratitude to the teachers, staff, district personnel, and our deputies for their swift actions in ensuring the safe evacuation of students and facilitating their reunification with parents,” the Weber County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.