Fire officials in Arlington are investigating a series of fires deemed “suspicious” that ignited early Wednesday morning at the abandoned J.L. Carter Junior High School. The incident prompted a three-alarm response due to the discovery of flames in multiple locations within the structure.
The Arlington Fire Department received a call regarding smoke at the school, located in the 700 block of Tharp Street, shortly before 1 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters observed visible flames and smoke emanating from the building.
Given the extent of the fires, which were located on both the first and second floors, the emergency response was escalated. Fire crews worked diligently for approximately 90 minutes to bring the situation under control.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and a thorough search of the premises confirmed that no individuals were present inside the vacant building at the time of the fires.
Due to the presence of multiple fire sources throughout the school, Arlington fire officials have classified the incident as suspicious. Arson investigators have been dispatched to the scene to assess whether the fires were intentionally ignited.
While the nature of the fires has raised concerns, authorities have not yet officially confirmed arson as the cause, and the investigation is ongoing.
