Atlanta Fire Rescue has opened an arson investigation at Morris Brown College after an administrator’s office was damaged in an early morning fire, officials confirmed to AJC.com.
The blaze Tuesday morning scorched carpet and destroyed two chairs in the academic affairs vice president’s office, the school’s interim president Kevin E. James said in a statement. However, no one was injured and the fire did not spread outside the office, he said.
The fire had burned itself out by the time crews arrived, but there were some indicators that it possibly had been set intentionally, Atlanta fire spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford said.
An arson investigator was called to the scene.
According to James, “a gas can and other evidence” were recovered by authorities. Atlanta fire officials have not released the details of the investigation.
The case is the second arson investigation Atlanta fire has opened in the administration building in the past eight months, Stafford said. In June, a small trash fire in the president’s office reached a desk and was extinguished by the sprinkler system.
RELATED: Fire damaged Morris Brown College offices, president says
The college is operating on a smaller scale after losing its accreditation in 2002 and is in the process of building back. Its enrollment was about 40 students in 2019, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
Only three buildings remain on the historic southwest Atlanta campus, and only the administration building is still in use. Many of its vacant buildings, which have served as unauthorized shelter to the homeless, have been damaged by fire beyond repair, and some have been torn down.
CONTINUING COVERAGE: Fires continue as Morris Brown College attempts a revival
All outside meetings at Morris Brown are canceled until further notice, according to the administration.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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