פייער אין שערי חמלה היינט דינסטג פארטאגס

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/04/06/brf563.htm

Kiryas Joel
School fire suspicious, Monroe fire chief says

A fire that broke out before school began yesterday damaged the inside of the school where Kiryas Joel's handicapped children are educated.
Monroe firefighters were called to the village's only public school at 7:45 a.m. to take over from the Kiryas Joel Fire Department, which had been summoned about 15 minutes earlier, Monroe fire Chief Jeffrey Mahran said. The two squads, assisted by volunteers from companies from Woodbury, Harriman and Blooming Grove, had the blaze under control roughly within an hour and a half, Mahran said.
A hall, stairwell and storage area on the first floor of a two-story wing sustained fire, smoke and water damage, Mahran said. Nobody was injured.
Mahran said the fire was suspicious but wouldn't elaborate because the cause remains under investigation. Orange County fire investigators and the Ulster County fire K-9 team, which can detect the presence of fire accelerants, examined the scene yesterday, he said.
Kiryas Joel Public Safety Director Moses Witriol, standing outside the school late in the afternoon, said the building had been closed all day. Students were diverted for the day to the religious schools where most children from the Hasidic community are educated, he said.

Chris McKenna

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/04/07/brf92.htm
April 7, 2005

Kiryas Joel
Fire-damaged school is to remain closed

Kiryas Joel's school for roughly 250 handicapped students will be closed for at least a month to repair damages from a recent fire and to make sure no contaminants linger in the air, Superintendent Steven Benardo said yesterday.
A professional cleaning company will work around the clock – except during Shabbos, Friday night through Saturday night – to clean the building by Sunday, Benardo said. On Monday, contractors and engineers are expected to return to the building to begin repairs, he said.
In the meantime, the school's roughly 140 full-time and 110 part-time students will be taught in available classrooms in the Hasidic community's religious schools, Benardo said. Those other buildings have free space because many students have begun their long Passover vacation, he said.
The fire broke out before school on Tuesday morning and caused fire, smoke and water damage on the first floor of a two-story wing of the building before firefighters could control it. Nobody was injured.
Fire Chief Jeffrey Mahran, who has called the blaze suspicious, said yesterday that Orange County fire investigators were still trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

Chris McKenna