Historic Oklahoma HS Gymnasium Destroyed by Overnight Fire

The Geary (Okla.) High School gymnasium caught fire Saturday evening and continued to burn through Sunday morning. School officials have canceled classes today while they investigate the cause of the fire and assess structural damage.

According to KFOR News, the fire broke out around 11 on Saturday night. “Blaine County Emergency Management said there is fire damage (…) along with smoke and water damage throughout the high school.” 

Early estimates say the gymnasium will be a total loss. The roof of the gymnasium has collapsed, and there is other, severe structural damage to the building. Photos and videos taken from the site showed flames pouring out of windows and doors on Saturday night. On Sunday, piles of rubble and smoke still billowing well into Sunday. 

Geary School District released a statement on Sunday saying, “Firefighters from many area communities responded to the fire and saved the rest of the main building.  Without their efforts, it is likely the entire building would have been lost.  Thank you firefighters for your service!”

On Sunday afternoon, community members, students and Geary High School alumni gathered outside the burnt building to pay homage to the historic structure where so many have competed and played over the years.

One community member told News9, “I wrestled a lot of matches in this one. This year we had the 80th Geary wrestling tournaments. It’s the oldest tournament in the nation.”

Construction crews began demolition of the remaining gymnasium walls on Sunday afternoon to avoid any accidents or further damage.

Geary superintendent Sean Buchanan said in a statement, “Geary is strong, our students resilient and our Bison family always finds a way forward. We will respond and succeed, because that’s what we do. Our school is so much more than a building – it’s our people, our history and our heart.”