The Spokane Police Department's Major Crimes Unit is investigating a fire that caused extensive damage to a private elementary school on Thursday as a "possible arson," spokesperson Julie Humphreys said on Thursday.
Spokane Fire crews arrived at St. Charles Elementary School just before 2 a.m. on Thursday after an officer with SPD who was driving by the school noticed the blaze. Spokane Fire Department battalion chief, David Heizer, said the priority quickly shifted to protecting the church attached to the school. Due to the condition of the building, the school is closed on Thursday. Heizer told reporters on the scene the flames were 15 to 20 feet above the roof of the school. At least 47 fire crew members were on scene. Heizer told KREM 2 photojournalist Al Lozano that the person who called 911 to report the fire said they heard an explosion. No explosion has been confirmed, according to Spokane Fire.