ST. GEORGE – Fire crews responded to a shed engulfed in flames at Pine View Middle School Tuesday night that investigators at the scene declared suspicious.
At least three firetrucks and their crews from the St. George Fire Department were dispatched to the fire at the middle school at 2145 E. 130 N. around 8:15 p.m. The first crew arrived on scene within five minutes of the alert and found the shed by the school’s shop building ablaze.
“The shed was fully engulfed,” St. George Battalion Chief Darren Imlay said. “(We) extinguished the fire pretty quickly (and) the shed was pretty much burned down to the ground at that point.”
The fire caused some minor damage to the exterior of the shop building as the heat caused some windows to break. The fire itself did not extend into the building, Imlay said.
Circumstances surrounding the fire have led investigators to believe the fire occurred under “very suspicious” circumstances.
“Due to the nature of this fire and what was stored in (the shed) – there were really no ignition sources in there – how fast the fire actually went, we’re thinking it’s very suspicious,” Imlay said. “It will be under investigation.”
During the investigation into the fire, firefighters took photos of the shed’s torched remains, as well as a tree across the parking lot from the shed that appeared to have scorch marks on it.
Imlay said he couldn’t comment further concerning the investigation, though added the state fire marshal’s office has been contacted regarding the event.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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The St. George Fire Department responded to a shed fire at Pine View Middle School that investigators consider “very suspicious,” St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The St. George Fire Department responded to a shed fire at Pine View Middle School that investigators consider “very suspicious,” St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The St. George Fire Department responded to a shed fire at Pine View Middle School that investigators consider “very suspicious,” St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The St. George Fire Department responded to a shed fire at Pine View Middle School that investigators consider “very suspicious,” St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The St. George Fire Department responded to a shed fire at Pine View Middle School that investigators consider “very suspicious,” St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The St. George Fire Department responded to a shed fire at Pine View Middle School that investigators consider “very suspicious,” St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The St. George Fire Department responded to a shed fire at Pine View Middle School that investigators consider “very suspicious,” St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The St. George Fire Department responded to a shed fire at Pine View Middle School that investigators consider “very suspicious." A scorched tree across the parking lot from the site of the torched shed was also noticed by investigators, St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
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