Fire damages portion of South Greene High School

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — South Greene High School classes were canceled on Friday after a portion of the gym was damaged by a Thursday night fire.

Director of Greene County Schools David McLain confirmed to News Channel 11 the fire started in the gym/locker room area Thursday evening. An individual playing tennis outside the school reportedly saw smoke and called authorities.

McLain said emergency crews quickly put out the fire and no one was in the school at the time.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Department (GCSD) issued a press release Friday morning stating that crews were called to the school around 7 p.m. Thursday.

The GCSD’s fire investigators and criminal investigation division are working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to look into the source of the fire.

“The Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continue to investigate a fire that occurred at South Greene High School on Thursday evening,” TBI Public Information Officer Leslie Earhart stated in the release. “The fire started in the school’s gymnasium and was quickly extinguished. At this time, the fire appears to be accidental in nature. However the investigation remains active and ongoing.”

Cleanup crews will be on site throughout the weekend. McLain said he hopes school will resume on Monday.

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