Fire Marshal: Gorham Schools Violate Fire Code - Local News Story - WMUR Manchester
GORHAM, N.H. -- An inspection of the high school in Gorham found numerous fire code violations, including a locker room without a second exit and a bowing wall in the gym, according to the fire marshal.
An inspector from the state Fire Marshal's office said work to correct the problems "must begin immediately." He toured schools in the Gorham-Randolph-Shelburne Cooperative School District at the request of Superintendent Paul Bousquet.
The girl's locker room at the high school should be closed until a second exit is installed, fire inspector Charles Chalk wrote in his report. The gym also could be off limits if an engineer finds that the bowing exterior wall is unsound.
The high school's chimneys need to be evaluated and repaired, and the fire extinguishing system in the school kitchen must be updated, he said. In the meantime, the stove may not be used to cook any greasy food.
Chalk also found that the building's entire fire alarm system is unsafe. It consists of a hodgepodge of "manual activation devices, some heat detectors, some smoke detectors and a partial sprinkler system," he wrote. "Upgrading must begin immediately."
He found several fire code violations at the Ed Fenn School, as well, including an inadequate rescue window in the speech therapy room. He suggested that the district hire a licensed fire protection engineer.
