Wyandotte High School tests air quality for smoke, soot after weekend fire

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - A fire at Wyandotte High School caused soot and smoke damage through the building, according to a district spokesperson.

The fire started around 11 p.m. Friday, January 30, in a small closet beneath a stairwell. The stairwell is adjacent to the school’s auditorium.

The fire damaged the closet door. The door will need to be replaced according to information from the school district. The greater damage to the school was caused by smoke from the fire. That includes:

• Smoke damage to auditorium curtains
• Soot on walls of the stairwell
• Soot in upper floor hallways

The district is working on air quality testing inside the school to determine if it is safe for students and staff to return to the building next week. Additional testing will also determine the amount of soot and smoke residue in the building according to the district.

Certain areas of the school were not impacted by the fire. Testing has deemed them safe for students and staff.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The 1,850 students who attend Wyandotte High School will begin virtual learning on Wednesday. Several hundred staff members will work from the district’s central office for the remainder of the week.

Additional updates will be provided as new information becomes available.