Many W.Va. school kitchens don’t meet fire code
Wood County working to bring facilities up to codeBy MICHAEL ERB
PARKERSBURG - As many as 18 of Wood County's 27 public schools do not meet new standards for fire suppression systems in school kitchens, but officials say they are working to bring all schools up to code by next summer.
The state fire code now requires a wet gel suppression system for school kitchen stoves. State officials say many counties have older systems that use outdated materials such as dry powder to extinguish fires.
The state fire code now requires a wet gel suppression system for school kitchen stoves. Many counties have older systems that use outdated materials such as dry powder to extinguish fires.
Assistant Superintendent of Facilities Lawrence Hasbargen said the new suppression systems are present on equipment at all three high schools, which in recent years have had massive renovations to their cafeterias.
"Those are all very modern, state of the art equipment," he said.
Gary Cooper, physical plant manager for Wood County Schools, said five elementary schools and one middle school already have had equipment upgraded. Wet gel systems are in place on equipment at Kanawha, Jefferson, Martin, Fairplains, Lubeck elementary schools and Edison Middle School.
Fire officials say the older systems put out fires but the materials they use are difficult to replace.
Deputy state fire marshal Joe Leake says most counties need to replace their suppression systems but a few have begun the process.
But that process is expensive. Putnam County spent $55,000 over two years to replace suppression systems in the kitchens at its 22 schools.
Cooper said the cost of those upgrades runs about $1,700 per system, and some facilities can require multiple systems depending on the equipment used.
The wet gel suppression systems are required for open-flame stoves, griddles and deep fryers.
