Los Angeles County Fire officials are investigating the cause of an early morning fire at St. Junípero Serra High School in Gardena’s school’s football field Nov. 20.
Crews responded after a 911 caller reported the fire around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. Aerial footage from local TV station KTLA 5 showed firefighters battling flames in the field’s press box and a section of the bleachers just before 6 a.m., well before classes were scheduled to begin.
No one was injured in the fire, which also damaged a few utility rooms connected to the bleacher area. It was unclear when or where exactly the fire began, and what caused it. The damaged press box and bleacher stands that burned will have to be replaced or repaired.
But upon inspecting the damage in the press box, school officials were surprised to find the only object inside that appeared to be almost untouched by the fire: a paperback Bible.
“We’re seeing it as a miracle,” Serra president Dr. John Moran told Angelus.
Asked why there was a Catholic Youth Bible in the press box, Moran answered simply: “We have Bibles all over the school, we’re a Catholic school.”
While the Serra football team’s season ended last week in a playoff loss to Yorba Linda High School, Moran told Angelus that the field will be open for all scheduled practices and sports events.
“We thank God that the timing was not worse, that no one was on campus and that the football season is over, and we’re going to live up to our slogan ‘siempre adelante,’ always forward,” said Moran.
The school was closed to students on Wednesday due to the fire, with classes being moved online for the rest of the day. Moran expected students would be allowed to return to campus on Thursday, Nov. 21.
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and is subject to updates.
