The Linden Fire Department responded to a fire at Linden Elementary School at 1:50 p.m. on Friday, June 28.

Damage is still being assessed by school officials, but Linden Fire Chief James Creel said it would be small and not interrupt the school’s upcoming class schedule.

The fire was located at the center of the school’s roof and was put out by responders within 5 to 10 minutes of arriving at the scene.

“It could have been a very large fire, but at that time we had such good responders that we were able to put it out, and it was classified as a small fire,” Creel said.

The LFD is still investigating the cause of the fire, with one possibility being lightning, but Creel said it was not a case of arson.

An Alabama Power employee spotted the fire from the office building and called 9-1-1. Eleven firefighters responded with one service truck and two pumper trucks.

During the July 2 Linden City Council meeting, Mayor Charles Moore commended the fire department for their quick action in extinguishing the fire.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, July 10 issue of the Demopolis Times.)