Heritage University fire cleanup continues

TOPPENISH -- The Yakima County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a hall at Heritage University south of Yakima.

Classes were on schedule early Monday for the 226 summer students at the private, liberal arts college, but the fire disrupted water service to the school and forced a cancellation of classes at noon. The university also closed a child care center that was not damaged but had no access to food service.

The fire Sunday destroyed a 1926 building that was the university's first structure. Petrie Hall housed a cafeteria, kitchen, bookstore, computer labs and several classrooms.

The university on the Yakama Indian Reservation serves about 1,200 students, with about two-thirds of the student body composed of Hispanic and Native American students.

This story was originally published July 10, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Heritage University fire cleanup continues ."