IREDELL CO., N.C. --
Police are searching for the arsonist who set fire to the Iredell County courthouse Monday.
Everyone inside the courthouse Monday morning was ordered out and all court appearances canceled because of a fire inside a bathroom on the buildings ground level.
It smelled like lighter fluid, like you'd put on a grill, said Mark Black, who was inside the courthouse at the time of the fire. Then as we came down the steps, I noticed there was smoke coming from the backside of the building."
Firefighters said someone removed ceiling tiles in the bathroom, stuffed paper towels in the wall and lit a fire.
The bathroom is located just steps from the buildings rear entrance, which is manned by a sheriffs deputy and protected by a metal detector.
There are surveillance cameras outside the courthouse, but none on the main level of the building.
As far as suspects, we don't have any right now, Ed Hodges, the deputy fire marshal, said.
Vincent Smith, who was inside the courthouse at the time of the fire, said he and another man grabbed a fire extinguisher after spotting smoke and flames in the bathroom.
"We went in and saw the fire in the top of the ceiling, he said.
Smith said he thinks additional security features, like surveillance cameras inside in the buildings main level, should be installed.
It's a shame because so many people could have been hurt, he said.
One person was treated for smoke inhalation.
Deputies said the people who were scheduled to appear in court Monday should contact the clerks office on Tuesday morning to get a new court date.
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