Fire Breaks Out at Former Redding School

LIZELLA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A fire broke out Wednesday night just before 7 p.m. at the former Redding School on Eisenhower Parkway.

About 40 firefighters fought the flames and managed to get the fire under control.

Firefighters remain there to douse hot spots and keep the fire from spreading.

Riggins said someone dropped by the station just before 7 p.m. and said they smelled smoke around the area.

As of about 8 p.m., the flames had risen several feet above the roof of the building. 

Macon-Bibb Fire Chief Marvin Riggins says the fire appeared to start in the attic.

“There was very few people here, but there were some people here,” said Riggins. “They were able to get them successfully out of the building. And then we turned it to a fire fight at that point in time. The fire was primarily located in the attic of the building–we do know that, now, what caused it to get there I’m not really sure at this point in time, but I do know that most of the fire was above head when we got on the scene.”

Witnesses at the scene said the building now serves as a Hindu temple, and housed the religion’s holy book.

Riggins says there were at least four people inside the building as the fire broke out, but no one was injured.