Arson cause of Sept. 8 Fire

The Fresno Fire Department has determined that arson was the cause of the Sept 8. fire that damaged a wing of the Lab School. Photos

University Police Chief Michael Dunlap received the official report completed by FFD Fire Investigator Rod Russell, who conducted the investigation in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal and the University Police Department.

"The fire investigator has determined that the fire was deliberately set," Dunlap said. "The University Police Department is continuing its active criminal investigation. Additional details of the report will be released once the criminal investigation is complete."

He said potential witnesses are being interviewed and that anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact University Police Investigator Gilbert Washington at 8-2132.

Nearly 2,000 students were without classes after the early morning two-alarm fire on Sept. 18 caused the shutdown of the 50-year-old Lab School for two days and the disruption of some student services such as tutoring.

Classes have resumed in six of the seven classrooms in the Lab School but one, room 128, was damaged beyond use and 10 classes being held there this semester had to be reassigned to other classrooms on campus.

Faculty offices for the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies and the Speech and Hearing Clinic have reopened.

Temporary buildings are now being erected west of the Leon S. Peters Business Building on the east side of the campus for three student services programs that have lost offices their offices as a result of the fire: the Learning Resource Center , Student Support Services and the Ronald E. McNair Program .

Insurance claims adjustors are still conducting their review of the damage. Final damage figures are not available, pending reports from structural engineers who are now assessing the integrity of key support beams, reports Steve Martinez, director of environmental health and safety.

The insured value of the entire Lab School complex is $4.7 million. Since a third of the complex was damaged, university officials estimated the damage at about $1.5 million to the structure only (content not included) but caution that this is only a general ballpark figure until insurance adjustors submit their report.

"Once we get those estimates in, probably late next week, then we can start to make some decisions about rebuilding, demolition or other options," Boyd said.