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Boyertown Area SD says classroom fire at Pine Forge was quickly extinguished; board approves shared-cost repairs and temporary HVAC
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Summary
District leaders told the school board the fire began inside a unit ventilator at Pine Forge Elementary; the classroom was cordoned off, remediation completed, and the board approved allocating 50% of the cost for a boiler replacement and 50% for smoke- and water-damage repairs.
The Boyertown Area School District on April 28 told the school board that a fire originating inside a unit ventilator at Pine Forge Elementary was quickly extinguished, none of the flames spread beyond the unit and the building has been cleared to resume classes.
In a report to the board, the superintendent said the unit ventilator (a heating and cooling unit inside the classroom) caused smoke and minor damage to a bulletin board, and that local and surrounding fire departments responded and contained the incident. ‘‘The fire was quickly extinguished,’’ the superintendent said, and the classroom was cordoned off while remediation and smoke odor removal took place.
Administrators said the district relocated the affected class while crews from a remediation contractor cleaned the room, and that the building was reopened after inspections by the Department of Agriculture and a state police investigator. The superintendent added the district temporarily paused PSSA testing so students could return to regular routines following remediation.
Because the unit ventilator is not repairable, contracted services recommended replacing boiler #2 at the Pine Forge building. The district is under a lease arrangement with the BCIU for that building and administration recommended the district pay 50% of the replacement and installation cost; the board approved that allocation by roll-call vote.
The board also approved allocating 50% of the cost for repairs and restoration tied to both the smoke damage and a separate pressure-relief valve incident that caused basement flooding. Administration said two contracted services confirmed the boiler could not be repaired and that the cost-sharing arrangement follows existing contractual language with the BCIU.
District officials said they will install a temporary one‑year heating and cooling system for the affected classroom over the summer and continue a longer-term HVAC project at the building next year. The superintendent said the goal is to return the classroom to service before the next school year begins.
The board took no further substantive action beyond approving the shared funding for replacement and repairs; administrators said insurance adjusters are involved and the district will continue coordinating with contractors and safety officials.
