JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — According to Jacksonville police, an old Jacksonville elementary school ignited in flames Wednesday afternoon.
Police say the school has been vacant for several years and the school district does not own the building. The city leased it from the Pulaski County Special School District.
Jacksonville Mayor Bob Johnson said the building is on the national historic registry. The city had plans to rehab it and make it part of a historic city tour. The other old elementary school building next door the city plans to turn into a senior center was not harmed.
The cause of the fire is still unknown at this time, but officials have confirmed the building was unoccupied.
"Our fire department is real good and I don't think there's a concern now," Mayor Johnson said. "I think they've got it under control and it'll be okay."
Mayor Johnson is very upset by the fire.
"I just hate it. It saddens me that a piece of our history, our founding father's history, is gone," he said.
This is an on-going investigation.
We will edit this story with updates and the investigation continues.