?A serious accident averted?by calm heads,? was the praise?of County Sheriff Department?Captain Gary Davis, when?speaking about the fire that?extensively damaged the auto?shop at Pahranagat Valley?High School.
The fire occurred shortly after?classes had ended for the?day Wednesday, Feb. 24. A car,?up on the lift in the shop, being?worked on by a student, had the?fuel tank fall out, hit the floor?and splash gasoline all over the?student?s clothes, plus spill a?large amount on the shop floor.
According to police reports,?shop teacher Rob Hansen sent?the student home immediately?to change clothes. While Hansen?was putting absorbent material?on the gasoline spill, a?nearby heater ignited gasoline?vapors and the floor and vehicle?on the lift quickly became?engulfed.
Hansen worked hurriedly?to put out the flames, suffered?some burns to his hands, but?the fire was spreading quickly beyond?his efforts.
Members of the Pahranagat Valley?Volunteer Fire Department, sheriff?s?deputies, school personnel and community?members arrived and helped?contain the fire to just the two-bay auto?shop area. Fire did not spread to the?woodshop or computer classrooms,was not burned.
However, the auto shop was extensively?damaged and the insurance company?has not yet given a monetary value?on the loss.
Hansen was later treated for his burns?and released and has since returned to?the school.
Davis said the quick response of the?local firefighters and others helped save?the building, the woodshop area, and?computer classroom, although computers?and equipment did suffer damage.