Firefighters from five departments responded last Tuesday afternoon to a blaze at the abandoned East Sunflower Elementary School cafeteria on East Claiborne Street. The fire was contained to the former auditorium/cafeteria area of the Sunflower County Consolidated School District- owned campus, and no injuries were reported.
The Sunflower Volunteer Fire Department, South Fire Task Force and Ruleville Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched at 3:09 p.m. to the former school at 212 E. Claiborne St., according to county fire officials. Crews arrived to find fire inside the cafeteria portion of the structure, which has been unoccupied for several years.
Because the building is vacant and owned by a public entity, the State Fire Marshal’s Office has been contacted to conduct a follow-up investigation into the cause of the blaze, authorities said. County fire investigator Otha James also responded to the scene to assist with the initial inquiry.
Responding units included Engine 452 for fire attack, Engine 352 for water supply and Engine 252 for scene logistics and ventilation. Additional resources on scene were Engine 951 for logistics, Engine 652 for ventilation and overhaul, the Fire Coordinator unit EM1, Deputy Fire Coordinator unit EM3 and the County Fire Investigator unit.
Fire officials said damage was confined to the cafeteria/auditorium section, and the rest of the structure did not sustain significant fire spread. No timetable has been announced for any cleanup or future plans for the former school property.
