Investigators find cause of school fire

Weyauwega Fire Chief Tom Cullen said investigators have determined that the negligent use of a lighter caused the Weyauwega-Fremont Middle School fire that occurred Monday, March 25.

Although fire damage was contained to the restroom where the blaze started, extensive smoke damage occurred throughout the middle school building.

Estimates on the damages are still being investigated but could exceed $75,000, Cullen said.

Shortly before 5 p.m. that day, Weyauwega firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the middle school.

They remained at the scene until after 8:36 p.m. to extinguish the fire and fully ventilate the building.

When the fire alarm sounded, students and staff inside and outside the Weyauwega campus were evacuated and moved away from the building.

There were no injuries reported with the fire operations or with the evacuation.

Assisting at the scene were fire departments from Manawa, Waupaca, Poy Sippi, Saxeville, New London, West Bloomfield, Iola, as well as the Weyauwega Police Department, Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office and Gold Cross Ambulance.