The Almira Elementary and Middle School was destroyed Tuesday after a fire started inside the building around 4:30 p.m.
According to Lincoln County Sheriff Wade Magers, no one was inside the school when the fire started. Classes and after school activities were cancelled on Tuesday due to a power outage. Lincoln County Fire District 8 Chief Denny Pinar said Avista shut down power to the city on Tuesday to fix a power issue somewhere in the area, which lead to the school closure on Tuesday.
The school is a total loss and a fire crew is on scene watching the fire smolder. As the building is a total loss, using any water at this point on the building would be a waste of water, Pinar said.
According to the Almira School District, there will be no school for middle schoolers on Wednesday.