LYNNWOOD — A fire caused more than $40,000 damage to the roof of Hilltop Elementary school on Monday night.
The cause was under investigation, but there was evidence of fireworks use near the school along Damson Road. No one was injured.
The fire was reported about 11:30 p.m. by a neighbor who was awakened by a loud boom and saw flames rising from the roof, said Leslie Hynes, spokeswoman for Snohomish County Fire District 1.
Firefighters at the nearby Hilltop fire station also heard the boom but didn’t see any trouble before being dispatched to the school a couple of minutes later, she said.
The fire was contained to a small area of roof and didn’t get inside the building. It apparently started in a nearby shrub.
The principal at Hilltop, Janie O’Brien, sent a letter to parents and staff. There have been problems in recent weeks.
“Since summer break started, we have had instances of several broken windows, graffiti and continued issues of individuals being seen on the roof of the school,” she wrote. “These instances are cause for concern. Any of these acts, but climbing on the roof in particular, cannot be tolerated.”
She urged people who see vandalism or other such activity to call 911.
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