N. Baltimore fire pinned on juvenile

8/1/2001

NORTH BALTIMORE - The state fire marshal investigating last week's blaze at Powell Elementary said the fire was caused by careless smoking by a juvenile.

Superintendent Rick Van Mooy said investigators know who the juvenile is and plan to present the case to the prosecutor for possible charges. He said the juvenile, whose name is not being released, was smoking in the vicinity of the storeroom where the fire began just after 7 a.m. July 25.

Mr. Van Mooy said school officials are getting estimates for clean-up and repair work and hope to present those to the school board by week's end.

The fire caused extensive smoke and water damage throughout the older portion of the building.