Two middle-school classrooms were damaged Friday in a fire that may have been deliberately set, authorities said.
About 11:30 a.m., Columbia fire crews arrived at W.G. Sanders Middle School, 136 Alida St., and found heavy smoke billowing from the building, Battalion 1 Chief Frank Cruz said.
The blaze started in a vacant classroom, Richland County Sheriffs spokesman Chris Cowan said. The students assigned to that classroom were at lunch when the fire started.
We do believe it was arson, Cowan said.
Where the fire started and evidence collected led authorities to believe it may have been intentional. Cowan wouldnt elaborate on what type of evidence was found.
Richland 1 spokeswoman Karen York said all the students at the school were evacuated. They spent about an hour outside before being allowed back into the building.
Damage to the two classrooms was estimated at $15,000, Cruz said.
The classrooms should be repaired by Monday, York said.
