Old school hit by arsonist

YOUNGSTOWN — City firefighters said someone tried to burn down the vacant John White School at 1061 Lyden Ave.

An emergency cell phone call brought crews to the building at 4:25 p.m. Saturday.

The fire was confined to an area at the back of a classroom. Firefighters said a bookcase and various papers and binders were burned and a wall and part of the ceiling were scorched.

The loss was estimated at $3,000.

Firefighters found one window near the fire location closed but not secured.

The first crew on the scene had to cut open a chained door to gain access to the school, which is now being used as a storage facility by the city school district. Firefighters said they were told the building may soon be demolished by the district.

Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com