Sonoita school’s science rocket sparks wildfire
Sonoita school’s science rocket sparks wildfire
28 April 2012
published by www.abc15.com
USA — SONOITA, AZ – A 14.5-acre wildfire was sparked by an errant science project rocket behind the Elgin School on Saturday.
Sonoita-Elgin Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Venos said a class was conducting an experiment with the rocket, which flew into a private pasture that quickly caught fire.
“The school was very proactive in giving us information on how to get into the school and get to the fire,” Venos said.
“Their effort was very helpful and probably cut our reaction time by at least five minutes. We did not have to cut through fences or gates to make it around to the fire.”
The elementary school was evacuated as a precaution, and firefighters had the wildfire under control within minutes.
The students were allowed to return after a perimeter had been established around the fire.
There were no injuries in the incident.
