Fire reported at new MHS maintenance building

The Maricopa Fire Department responded to an alarm that originated from the maintenance building of the Maricopa Unified School District on North Taft Avenue.

The alarm came in around 2:45 p.m. today, according to a released state. No one was in the building at that time.

Upon arrival, fire crews found light smoke throughout the newly constructed 12,000-square-foot maintenance and warehouse facility near the high school.

The fire originated from a roof-mounted air conditioning unit motor, and fire crews were able to contain it to that area.

The smoke in the building activated the alarm system of the unoccupied structure, which dispatched the fire department. There were no reported injuries, and smoke damage was minimal due to the quick response of fire units.

The fire department reminds citizens that fire alarm and sprinkler systems save lives and property. If this building had not been equipped with a central alarm system, the outcome may well have been much worse. Early notification, especially in an unoccupied structure, is an important part of fire prevention.