On the first Independence Day weekend of a total fireworks ban in SeaTac, fireworks were blamed for a massive blaze at the old Boulevard Park Elementary School.

The first firefighters pulled up to the school, located at 12833 20th Ave. S., at 8:15 p.m., Sunday, July 2, and the last truck did not leave until 1 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, according to SeaTac Fire Chief Bob Meyer.

One hundred forty-five firefighters from 18 agencies in King and Pierce counties battled the fire. These include firefighters from SeaTac, Tukwila, Burien, North Highline, the Port of Seattle, Skyway and Seattle. Another 30 personnel provided support.

Meyer said his department plans for fireworks-related problems around the Fourth of July, but "we didn't expect a huge multi-million dollar fire."

Two Tukwila firefighters complained of chest pains and a SeaTac firefighter became dehydrated. They were taken to local hospitals but released within three hours, Meyer reported.

The old school, built in 1936, was used for storage of custodial supplies, according to Assistant Superintendent Geri Fain. Many storage items had been moved in April because the district planned to sell the building.

Highline School Board members surplused the building located under the flight path for Sea-Tac International Airport. The district had issued a request for proposals but a buyer had not yet been found, Fain reported.

The fire quickly spread to an annex building where staffers assembled kits in plastic tubs for elementary science programs.

The kits did not contain any chemicals that could have accelerated the fire, according to Fain.

"It was an old building with no firewalls," she added.

The property is located in the northwest corner of SeaTac near Burien and unincorporated North Highline.

Fain estimated the dollar loss as "in the millions" but said a firm figure won't be available for several weeks.

District spokeswoman Rexanne Forbes added many district employees are on summer break so an immediate inventory of what was lost is "challenging."

"We have fenced and secured the area," Fain noted last week. ""We are waiting for the insurance adjuster to tell us what to do next."

Meyer said King County arson investigators are following up on leads.

Witnesses reported that they saw children playing with fireworks, including bottle rockets, in the area before the blaze.

The fire started in a bush and quickly spread to the school's walls and attic.

Nearby residents called the fire department shortly after 8 p.m. when they saw the school walls on fire.

Because of the intense heat, firefighters sprayed water on the flames from the exterior but had to abandon efforts to fight the fire from inside. The buildings are considered total losses.

The fire is being treated as arson because of the new SeaTac fireworks ban.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to call the statewide Arson Hotline at (800) 55-ARSON.