Ga. Commissioner Investigating High School Arson

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and Fitzgerald Fire Chief Roger Coleman are investigating an arson fire that heavily damaged the old Fitzgerald High School this week.

Oxendine reported that a juvenile suspect is being held at the Eastman Regional Youth Detention Center, charged with first-degree arson and criminal trespassing.

The school, built in 1907, was on the National Register of Historic Places. It was unoccupied and scheduled for renovation at the time of the fire.

Oxendine said a preliminary damage estimate was approximately $400,000.