Fire Chief: Faulty Light Fixture Caused Cabot School Fire

One of the most devastating fires in Cabot`s history was caused by a faulty fluorescent light fixture, according to Cabot Fire Chief Philip Robinson. Chief Robinson said early on, there was no reason to believe this fire was anything but an accident, and his final findings don`t change that. The light fixture was in a storage room near the school`s media center. "This is something that can`t be foreseen, but there are things that can be done ahead of time to eliminate or minimize the damage if something like that does occur," Robinson said. The 9-year-old building was built to code -- but codes have changed. Newer buildings are required to have sprinklers -- but since this fire started in the ceiling and spread through the school`s attic, Robinson said a sprinkler system may not have stopped the fire. "It may or may not have helped -- I can`t say that it would have helped at all," he said. Now the main concern is the coming school year. Cabot Superintendent Dr. Frank Holman is unsure how much the district can help teachers who`ve lost teaching material purchased with their own money. But with the help of 30 portable classrooms -- the Junior High North students will start their school year only a week later than scheduled. Parents of students set to attend Cabot Junior High North can get all the information you`ll need about schedules, along with future plans and other important things at upcoming meetings to be held at the High School Fine Arts Center. Parents of 9th graders should gather at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 20. Parents of 8th graders should gather at 4:00 pm on Sunday, August 20. Parents of 7th graders should gather the next day, Monday, August 21, at 6:00 pm. 8th grade parents, also on sunday, august 20th, but at 4:00 pm. then 7th grade parents meet, monday, august 21 6:00 p.m. all meetings will be at the high school fine arts center. and of course, you can find this information at our website, kark dot com.