WEST LINN -- Police and fire investigators are looking for links in a recent string of fires that appear to have been intentionally set at West Linn High School.



The most recent fire, earlier today in a second-floor restroom, sent a custodian to the hospital with smoke inhalation after he put out the blaze. Shortly afterward, the school's 1,510 students were evacuated from the building and later sent home early.



Sgt. Neil Hennelly, West Linn police spokesman, said police are concerned that the fires could be dangerous to the entire student body, faculty and staff.



"This is a serious incident," Hennelly said. "It's an occupied building and we're taking the whole thing very seriously."



Meanwhile, investigators are trying to determine whether there are any connections to two fires in school restrooms earlier this month.



School officials could not be reached for comment.



Brian Barker, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue spokesman, said firefighters were called to the high school, 5464 West A St., shortly after 11 a.m., when the building suddenly filled with acrid smoke. Arriving firefighters found that the fire had been mostly extinguished -- but at a price.



Custodian Claude R. Koch rushed into the smoke-choked bathroom along with Bill Ray, the school's chief engineer, and used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze. Koch, 53, of Oregon City, suffered smoke inhalation and was rushed to Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center for observation.



"It was pretty smoky in there," Koch said. "I got blasted back by all the smoke when I hit the fire with the fire extinguisher."



Koch said X-rays of his lungs were negative and he was released.



"I wound up going home early," Koch said.



Because of Koch's quick response, the fire was contained to the restroom, Barker said.



Students were allowed back into the building's first floor about 45 minutes later while the school's ventilation system cleared smoke from the second floor.



However at 1 p.m., all students were sent home for the day.



Hennelly urged anyone with information about the incident or a potential suspect to call West Linn police at 503-655-6214.



In addition, confidential text messages can be sent 274637, with the keyword "WLPD" as the first word in the message.





-- Rick Bella Follow @southnewshound pt src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">