The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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February 18, 2009

School fire deemed suspicious

Sleepy Eye incident being investigated for possible arson

By Tanner Kent

SLEEPY EYE — A fire early Wednesday morning in the Sleepy Eye Public School is being investigated as possible arson.

Because of the incident, classes were canceled Wednesday with announcements posted on the district’s Web site and on its phone information line. As of press time, officials still hadn’t decided if school would be canceled today.

The Sleepy Eye fire and police departments responded to a fire alarm at the school shortly after 2:30 a.m. Upon arrival, officials found the school’s sprinkler system had the fire largely contained, except for a small fire in a basement locker room. Firefighters did pump about 100 gallons of water into the school, according to Sleepy Eye Fire Chief Tom Moldaschel.

Officials said the school suffered water and smoke damage, which prompted the class cancellation. Several rooms near the locker room were also damaged.

An official with the police department said the fire did not appear to be caused by a bomb or explosive but did say the incident is being investigated as an arson. No one had been arrested.

Sleepy Eye police and fire are investigating with assistance from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, the New Ulm Police Department K-9 unit and the state fire marshal.

Sleepy Eye Public Schools have had an unfortunate history with school fires. In 1895, an explosion razed one of the school district’s first schools, which was only 4 years old at the time. And in 1939, a school was nearly burnt down in an attempt by a few staff members to get a new school.

For more information, call the school’s information line at 507-794-7907.

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