GHHS fire investigation continues

The investigation into Thursday afternoon’s fire in the boy’s locker room at Granite Hills High School continues, said Porterville Fire Department Fire Investigator Mitch Sandoval. The fire started at approximately 2p.m,prompting the evacuation of all students and sending Rich Lambie, an instructor and coach at GHHS, to Sierra View District Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation symptoms.

“We know it was intentionally set,” Sandoval said on Friday. “But we’re still investigating. There were eight lockers that were damaged by heat and water.”

The fire caused an approximate $1,500 damage to the lockers, which will need to be replaced, and an approximate $400 damage to contents.

“We will continue investigating next week. There are still individuals we need to talk with,” Sandoval said. “The structure did not burn but there was smoke-stained damage to the walls.”

The fire, which spread sideways through the lockers, produced a lot of thick, black smoke before it was extinguished, shortly after it began.