ARKANSAS, USA — It’s been 5 years since the only high school in a small Oklahoma town was severely damaged by a massive fire, today students are back in class... in a brand new building.
A massive fire consumed the old high school in Cameron Oklahoma, where investigators say they believe an electrical problem overnight caused the fire. Today, brand-new classrooms stand upright with everything a modern school must have.
"We have the latest smart boards, smart TVs, computers, laptops, Chromebooks—everything's brand new for our students," says Superintendent John Long. "I think the kids are very excited, and when I meet them in the hall they say we love this building. we love what's done and everybody's so appreciative."
Long went on to say, "Our community and our kids deserve this. August 29 2017 was a horrible day for Cameron, the communities, and the school district. We wanted to build them back to the best possible school that money would allow. and I think that the kids are very appreciative of what we've done."
The school's principal Ken Whitehead says "We've been separated for roughly five years after the fire, and to walk in this morning to see our students all back in the classrooms and engaged in the learning process made me feel like a big weight was lifted off of their shoulders."
Roy Butler, a teacher says "As you walk through it, it's the best facility around and it's just really wonderful. you don't really realize what you lost five years ago to something like this."
"I think it's pretty good so far. I think everybody's enjoying it—still getting used to it, but enjoying it!" Says Shelby Fitzer, a student at Cameron High School.
Superintendent Long says they are planning an open house that everyone will be invited to attend after some finishing touches.
Classes at Cameron High School were canceled Wednesday (Aug. 30, 2017) after the building went up in flames.
LeFlore County EMS Director Jeff Fishel said the fire started around 8:50 p.m.
Several crews were on the scene battling the flames including Pocola Fire Department, LeFlore County Sheriff's Office, Poteau Fire Department, and the Pocola Police Department.
Poteau's Fire Chief said it took about an hour and a half for crews to contain the fire, and they were containing hot spots until nearly 4 a.m.
"It's going to take some time," said Rick Ward, school board president. "We are going to make it. No doubt about that. Just going to take some time getting everything back together."
Investigators said they believe the fire started near the principal's office at the front of the building. Crews said the administration building and the gym are a complete loss, and a lot of memorabilia was lost in the flames.
Firefighters said no one was injured, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Inside the Community Center building, memorabilia, trophies, jerseys, and pictures that could be saved from the gym before it went up in flames are laid out across the floor.
"Probably 40 years of trophy's that we have won," Ward said. "They were in the main lobby of the school at the end of the gymnasium. We got a call from the fireman last night that if we wanted them, we needed to try to get them. We went through and salvaged this much of it. We left probably 40 to 50 plaques on the wall."
However, school officials weren't able to save them all.
"We keep the trophies stored," said Roy Butler, a teacher at the school for 22 years. "We probably lost hundreds of them underneath the bleachers. Maybe four hundred."
Among the memorabilia salvaged is a jersey wore by Kevin Lomon, who played with the Atlanta Braves, and a jersey worn by Rodney Nye, who played with the Mets.
Along the school's hallway are graduating class pictures dating back to the 1930s. The pictures were destroyed in the fire.
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