PEA RIDGE — A three-alarm fire at the Pea Ridge High School Tuesday, Oct. 5, was quickly downgraded when Pea Ridge firefighters arrived on the scene to find a clothes dryer had caught on fire, igniting a mop head and insulation.

Both Northeast Benton County and Avoca fire departments were initially sent to the fire, but soon canceled.

Firefighters removed the clothes dryer, insulation and checked for any hot spots while setting up a fan to remove the smoke.

The state Health Department closed the school’s kitchen while Northwest Arkansas Restore It cleaned the kitchen and dining room. All the ceiling tiles, all food commodities which weren’t canned, all paper products had to be removed and disposed of, according to high school principal Rick Neal.

Wednesday, students were given a sack lunch with a sandwich Thursday, Subway provided lunch.

Friday, lunches were provided by Pizza Hut. Students ate lunch on the paved area outside the dining room.

Neal said insurance paid the balance of the costs of the meals above the students’ lunch costs.

News, Pages 12 on 10/13/2010