Fire destroys Boise elementary school set for demolition

BOISE (AP) — Firefighters were working on Monday to protect a new elementary school from spreading flames after an older school, scheduled to be demolished next week, caught fire.

The fire at the old Valley View Elementary School started about 9:30 a.m., Boise Fire Division Chief Aaron Hummel said. Authorities do not know what caused the fire, but had it mostly knocked down by early afternoon. School isn't currently in session in either of the school buildings.

People living near the school were being warned to avoid the noxious smoke from the fire, Hummel said.

“We just don't know exactly what's in the smoke — it’s kind of a chemical cocktail,” Hummel said, “so it’s not a good idea to be loitering around the smoke.”

The fire department was using a drone with infrared technology and crew members to ensure that the new school, built next to the one scheduled for demolition, was protected from the flames, Hummel said.

Construction workers were working on demolition outside of the school when the fire was reported. Two workers reported minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene, according to a Boise Fire Department's Twitter post.