Three Maui County schools failed to pass annual fire inspections in the 2007-08 school year, according to the state Department of Education.

Those schools were King Kekaulike and Moloka'i high schools, which had alarm system deficiencies, and Lokelani Intermediate School, which had a pressure problem with its dry standpipe, The Maui News reported.

Although a handful of schools were cited for Fire Code deficiencies, the fire alarm systems continued to work and the problems either have been corrected or are scheduled to be corrected, said Gary Yasui, acting safety and security services section administrator and school inspection coordinator.

Out of the 254 schools inspected 244 passed with no violations. The findings were reported Thursday to the Hawai'i State Board of Education's Committee on Audit on O'ahu. All schools in the Honolulu and Kaua'i districts passed.

Yasui said those with problems with their fire alarm systems could have had fire panel systems that showed there was a trouble spot in the system.

"What we found, a lot of times, the technicians have found some kind of short somewhere," he said.

He said short-circuits could occur after periods of heavy rains.

"But the systems are still operable."

The DOE said the small percentage of schools cited for Fire Code violations is attributed to the county fire departments' willingness to partner and work with schools to conduct a pre-fire inspection and the schools' efforts to provide a safe learning environment.

This was the 16th year of the annual School Fire Inspection program.

A state summary report and school fire inspection results can be found at: www.doe.k12. hi.us, under "News," July 24.

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