ANAHEIM : Rebuilt Fairmont Campus Reopens

A campus of a nationally recognized private elementary school that was nearly destroyed by an arsonist in June will reopen today, and its executive director says no trace of the fire remains.

David Jackson, executive director of Fairmont Private Schools, said the Citron Street campus has new walls, wiring, plumbing and carpeting and is in better condition than it was before the June 27 blaze. Jackson said the school spent $400,000 on reconstruction.

“Now everything is fresh and new,” Jackson said Monday. “While we were rebuilding, we were able to do some things such as making our entryway and office nicer.”

One of three campuses operated by Fairmont, the Citron Street site houses 275 preschoolers and first-graders. Fairmont, the oldest and largest non-sectarian private school in Orange County, has a second Anaheim campus that houses second- through eighth-graders.

It also operates a campus in Yorba Linda.

The Citron campus fire began at 11:19 p.m. June 27, gutting the office, entryway and two classrooms. The flames and smoke from the blaze--and the water used to extinguish it--caused damage throughout the 40-year-old stucco and frame building.

Anaheim fire investigators said the blaze was intentionally set in three spots. No arrests have been made.

Fairmont Private Schools is scheduled to receive a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award from President Bush in a White House ceremony Sept. 25.

And even though the reconstruction has left the school in better shape than it was before the fire, Jackson said he’s grateful that the ordeal is over.