After inhaling smoke from the Nov. 20 cafeteria fire, full-time Searcy firefighter Josh Oakes receives oxygen to clear his lungs. More than 25 Searcy firefighters tamed the blaze that caused more than $900,000 in damage to the second floor of the American Heritage building. (Photo by Lindsey Taliaferro) Kera Kelso-N. Richland Hills. Texas. Youth and Family Ministry. Chi Omega Pi. Erin KemP-Mountain View. Ark. Accounting. Club Queen (Pi Kappa Epsilon). American Studies. Delta Mu Delta. Accounting Society. TV 16. Zeta Rho. Jennifer Kendall-ball-searcy, Ark. Child Development. Campaigns (Scotland). FCS. JOY. Delta Gamma Rho. Jessica Kiefer-Webster-salida. Colo. Public Administration. Alpha Chi. JOY. American Studies. Dean's List. Honors Association. Samuel Killay-cranston, R.I. English Licensure. Dean's List. Flim Studies. Honors Association. Phi Eta Sigma. Sigma Tau Delta. Chi Sigma Alpha. Morgan Kimbrough-Germantown, Tenn. Marketing. American Marketing Association. Zeta Rho. Megan King-Bristolville, Ohio. Fashion and Interior Merchandising. American Society of Interior Design. Chi Omega Pi. Melinda King-Judsonia, Ark. Management. ... 60 people II cafeteria "e blazes from an arson attack Students flocked to the American Heritage building around curfew Nov. 20 as a fire on the second floor of the cafeteria caused more than $900,eOO in damage. FreshmanJennifer DiMarzio, who saw the blaze from campus, was sur– prised at the amount of damage. "I just couldn't believe that it did $900,000 worthofdamage," DiMarzio said. "It's incomprehensible." A 16-year-old Searcy boy, who police arrested Dec. 14 for unrelated charges, confessed to starting the blaze and plead guilty in a coprt hearingDec. 20. According to a state– ment PresidentDavid Burks released Dec.20, the teen was to remain in the custody of the Division of Youth Ser– vice until he turned 18. "We were shocked to discover it was arson," David Crouch, director of public relations, said. "We're sad– dened that anyone would do such a thing. Fortunately, there were no in– juries." Sources said the teenager walked into the building after checking sev– erallocked doors. He then made his way up to the northwest corner of the second floor and started the fire in a storage room, which contained flammable objects. After noticing smoke, a student alerted authorities at 11 p.m. Within minutes, 25 Searcy firefighters ar– rived on the scene. They worked for more than two hours to tame the blaze. After the fire was extinguished, ServiceMaster andAramark employ– ees worked from 4 to 11 a.m. to get the building in order to serve lunch. Burks believed the efforts of ev eryone involved helped reduce the impact of the fire. "The firemen risking their lives to put the fire out quickly, the students praying at the scene, the cooperation of the cleanup efforts-it was all something to behold," Burks said. The second floor of the American Heritage building housed several banquet facilities utilized by Aramark's catering services. Al though previously scheduled events were relocated around campus, busi ness was markedly slow following the blaze, Steve Ritter, Aramark's director of food services, said. "Numbers are down, but it's hard to quantify because we can't account for those who didn't pick up the phone," Ritter said, referring to cus tomers who assumed the catering business halted after the fire . Crews completed renovations to the second floor of the American Heritage building late spring. Many photos and paintings from Harding's history were destroyed. Important artifacts that were spared included the original Harding flag and a portrait of James A. Harding. "Items spared will be restored after cleaning," Terrie Smith, Aramark catering director, said. Despite the extensive damage Burks said his main concern during the fire was not the building. "It'sjust scary," Burks said. "Your number one concern is if anyone is hurt. There are some things that you can't replace." -Staff Writers
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