JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The state Fire Marshal's Office is investigating a suspicious fire that damaged an abandoned, 112-year-old Duval County school early Sunday near downtown Jacksonville.
No injuries were reported in the blaze at Public School No. 8, at 16th and Franklin streets on the city's Eastside, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department officials said.
The school originally was known as Graded Springfield School opened in 1909 and closed in 2005.
It is believed to be have been designed by Richard Lewis Brown, who was Jacksonville’s first black architect and worked with Duval County Public Schools, according to Abandoned Florida, an online site focused on Florida history.
The fire had been started at multiple locations inside the building, Capt. Eric Prosswimmer, JFRD spokesman, told reporters at the scene.
He said the biggest concern for firefighters was holes in the school floors. Because it was dark, they couldn't see the holes, which made it dangerous for them, Prosswimmer said.
No firefighters were injured.
Smoke was coming from the building when firefighters arrived about 7:35 a.m.,\ By 7:50 a.m. the fire was under control. Firefighters searched the building but found nobody inside, JFRD said on its official Twitter account.
A damage estimate wasn't available Sunday.