Memphis investigators are on the hunt for whoever torched a vacant school Sunday afternoon, a blaze that left one firefighter hurt as crews scrambled to get it under control. Flames ripped through the former Memphis Scholars South Campus, also known as Florida-Kansas Elementary, on West Olive Avenue and left the grounds strewn with charred debris. Officials say the injured firefighter was treated and is expected to recover.
According to Action News 5, Memphis Fire Department crews were dispatched after the blaze was reported at about 4:40 p.m. and arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from the structure. The station reports that firefighters faced a fast-moving fire that caused significant damage to the empty campus.
School records list the property at 90 West Olive Avenue and identify it as the Memphis Scholars Florida-Kansas campus, according to the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics. Those listings indicate the site historically served elementary grades, while first responders described the building as no longer in regular use when the fire broke out.
Arson Investigation Under Way
Investigators told Action News 5 they believe the blaze was deliberately set and have launched an arson investigation. Crews at the scene reported widespread burning and debris scattered across the former school grounds. Authorities say the firefighter’s injuries were not life-threatening and that the responder is expected to recover.
Why Vacant Buildings Are Targets
Federal fire data show that fires in vacant properties are more likely to be intentionally set and account for a larger share of firefighter injuries than many other structure fires. Reports on vacant-building incidents from the U.S. Fire Administration note tens of thousands of such fires nationally in recent years, along with a pattern of deliberate ignition that strains local fire crews and public resources. U.S. Fire Administration
How To Help
Memphis officials are asking anyone who saw the fire or noticed suspicious activity around the West Olive property to contact the Memphis Fire Department or the Memphis Police Department. Tips can also be shared through local anonymous crime-stoppers channels as investigators work to track down whoever is responsible.
