Early morning fire at former high school called suspicious

LYNNWOOD — A fire that broke out this morning at Lynnwood school slated for demolition is being called suspicious.

The woodshop at Scriber Lake High School was engulfed in flames when Lynnwood firefighters arrived about 1:30 a.m. A neighbor had spotted smoke, Lynnwood fire spokeswoman Marybeth O’Leary said.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. The room, located in the northwest part of the school, was gutted.

The school is being torn down to make room for new district offices and no students will be displaced by the fire, Edmonds School District spokeswoman Debbie Jakala said. Demolition is underway in parts of the school and other parts are being cleared out today.

The room destroyed by fire was being used by the construction company that is tearing down the school.

Damage was estimated at $20,000. The fire is not expected to delay construction on the new offices, which are scheduled to open in the fall of 2009, Jakala said.

It appears that someone may have broken into the room prior to the fire, O’Leary said. Lynnwood police are investigating.