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“A large puff of smoke and a homeless man walking away.” This is how SCAD’s Security Manger Robert Koker described the scene on SCAD Way last Friday, September 17. The blaze started in the area behind Peachtree Christian Church and next to the SCAD Atlanta parking deck. The incident disrupted festivities for the SCAD Way Street Festival, but did not cause the event to be canceled. No damages were made to SCAD property, nor were there any injuries.
Koker and his security supervisor Terry Wright, along with SCAD maintenance personnel Jamal Kruah and Erik Barrera, jumped in to try to control the blaze. “We don’t know if he [the homeless man] was cooking, smoking or what,” stated Koker. Barrera said that they “smelled the smoke and looked over” to see the fire taking over the area. He continued, “You couldn’t see inside of the brush, so we couldn’t believe he just started it.” The men grabbed extinguishers to try to keep the fire from spreading, but the blaze was “too far advanced” as the official report stated. Koker confirmed, “The fire was put out in about forty-five minutes after the firefighters arrived on the scene and SCAD Way was shut down for about half an hour.” All participants of the festivities were moved to Spring House to continue their celebration.
Koker was just happy the fire was put out and “no one was injured.” The maintenance personnel that jumped in were “amazed and disappointed” by the situation. Barrera stated that he was “disappointed” about the SCAD Way Festival being “stopped” after they had “set up all day.” Kruah, in his attempt to make sense of the situation, felt good that they could help, but wondered “why the fire department took so long to respond.” He also was glad no one was hurt or injured.
Koker maintained that the property where the fire started is not part of SCAD Atlanta, but belongs to the church next door. He affirmed that SCAD personnel will keep a close eye on the area and notify the proper authorities if anyone appears to be lurking around.