<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1dn5mC_0wOkm5Lf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1dn5mC_0wOkm5Lf00" width="1320" height="743" >GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. — Palmer Elementary School has been a staple in Grundy County for over 98 years.But after a fire over the weekend, charred walls, busted out windows, and rubble are what remain.The Grundy County Sheriff's Office is investigating arson as a possible cause.David Scissom finished his years at Palmer Elementary in 1967.<blockquote>"It's heart breaking. You know, I'll be 71 year old next week, and it's hard to see everything go."</blockquote>The school has been closed since 2021 after it was consolidated with Swiss Memorial.But Sunday, fire crews arrived to heavy smoke in the upper auditorium and lower classroom section of the school, according to the Palmer Volunteer Fire Department.The fire department said “we are grieving with each and every one of you due to this senseless act of arson.”But former Grundy County school board member Leon Woodlee told us the building was not insured<blockquote>"There was a disagreement, and I think it was like $4,000 a month. They were paying on the insurance, and then they sold and dropped the insurance."</blockquote>We called, emailed, and went to the Grundy County Board of Education building to ask Director of schools Donald Dudley if there was insurance on the building.But we were told he was in meetings all day.NEW INFO: A release says the fire broke out at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Palmer Elementary School on School Road.Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke in the upper auditorium and lower classroom sections of the school.Crews tried to go inside but were met with heavy flaimes in the rear of the building, so they retreated to conduct an external attack.A little while later, the auditorium collapsed.A total of 75 fire and law enforcement personnel were on the scene.<blockquote>Palmer Elementary School has been a staple of the community for over 98 years and we are grieving with each and every one of you due to this senseless act of arson,' a release from the Palmer Volunteer Fire Department says.</blockquote>The school has been closed since the 2021-2022 school year after it consolidated with another school.The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is helping local authorities on this case.You can see the flames and water being sprayed as firefighters fought the fire in this photo sent to us by viewer Cody Cookston.<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=49zjYm_0wOkm5Lf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=49zjYm_0wOkm5Lf00" width="648" height="365" >These are photos of the aftermath. You can see how badly the structure was damaged.<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3QcE8j_0wOkm5Lf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3QcE8j_0wOkm5Lf00" width="648" height="365" ><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Xrn7I_0wOkm5Lf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Xrn7I_0wOkm5Lf00" width="648" height="365" >Viewer Christy Meeks sent us this video of the smoke pouring out the building:A post on GCSO's Facebook at 6 p.m. Sunday says the fire has now been contained.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid0uCRjMheFLdcUTfDXBHNTockatLCXN29xc4aRMa69kC68ZEd1dpQn1H5pZgLoPYgMl%26id%3D61560987130150&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" style="width:100%; height:100%; position:relative; border:none; overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>GCSO also asks the public to avoid the area.<blockquote>"The area will be taped off by the Sheriff’s Department," says GCSO on Facebook. "Anyone found inside the area will be arrested."</blockquote><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3NYLVY_0wOkm5Lf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3NYLVY_0wOkm5Lf00" width="648" height="365" >GCSO says an investigation to find the cause of the fire will be conducted Monday morningwith the state.This is a developing story. Depend on us for updates.</div></body>

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Authorities investigating arson as possible cause of Tennessee elementary school fire

GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. — Palmer Elementary School has been a staple in Grundy County for over 98 years. But after a fire over the weekend, charred walls, busted out windows, and rubble are what remain. The Grundy County Sheriff's Office is investigating arson as a possible cause. David Scissom...